Jointly managed by the University of Geneva’s Department of Astronomy and the University of Montreal, the Near Infra Red Planet Search (NIRPS) consortium has received a cutting-edge boost from CSEM’s laser frequency comb technology.
The laser frequency comb is a precise and stable light source which aims to help the NIRPS consortium unlock mysteries of distant planets – including the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life.
The technology has also been implemented at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory in Chile.
The NIRPS consortium is expanding exoplanet research
Through the collaboration, the researchers hope to expand exoplanet research. Described as ‘cosmic nomads’, exoplanets have intrigued scientists for around three decades.
The NIRPS consortium aims to gauge their weight, temperature, and atmosphere. NIRPS is a highly advanced spectrograph, that scrutinises the light emitted from distant stars and detects variations caused by the gravitational pull of the planets in their orbit.
Implementing laser frequency comb technology
Now, the NIRPS spectrograph has been implemented with a laser frequency comb developed by CSEM. The device generates light with a steady frequency spectrum, characterised by evenly spaced lines.
The laser frequency comb aids the measurement of a star’s radial velocity, serving as an optical benchmark. This metric is important to understand the speed at which stars move towards or away from us.
Installed at La Silla Observatory in Chile, the laser frequency comb will calibrate the NIRPS spectrograph to high levels of precision. As a result, the NIRPS consortium will be able to uncover the behaviour of exoplanets similar to Earth – bringing in a new era of space exploration and discovery.
Christopher Bonzon, Manager for Laser Technologies at CSEM, said: “CSEM’s laser frequency comb technology stands as the epitome of spectroscopic accuracy and stability. This system produces a stream of equidistant laser lines locked to a molecular transition and spaced by exactly 15 GHz using electro-optic modulation — far surpassing the scope of competing technologies.
“The frequency comb acts exactly like a ruler in the spectral domain, providing the NIRPS spectrograph with a reference to match data over the years.”
High-performance spectrograph to discover extraterrestrial life
Exoplanets are fascinating and complex, revealing new insights into the origins of planetary systems.
The collaboration represents an important milestone in the mission to understand exoplanets and the search for life beyond Earth.
Professor François Bouchy, Co-Principal Investigator of the NIRPS consortium, stated: “We are very proud to collaborate with CSEM on this exciting project. Their laser frequency comb technology is essential for achieving the high performance and long‑term reliability that we need for the NIRPS spectrograph.
“Together, we hope to make new discoveries and contribute to the advancement of exoplanet science.”
