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Planetary Seminar - Fall 2025 Seminars

Fall 2025

Innovation in Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy for Space Exploration

Date: October 3, 2025   3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Location: 3853 Slichter Hall

Presented by: e.g., Prof. Nadja Drabon — TBD

High-resolution spectroscopy is essential for resolving fine spectral features that reveal important physical processes in planetary, astrophysical, and heliophysical environments. However, traditional high-R instruments are large, complex, and incompatible with compact or distributed space platforms. We present a new generation of Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy (SHS) systems that overcome these limitations through a fully integrated, all-reflective, and monolithic design. Optimized for the FUV/EUV regime (10–200 nm), our SHS architecture delivers resolving powers of R ~20,000–100,000 in a compact form factor (<2U volume, <10 kg), making it ideal for CubeSats, SmallSats, and deep-space missions. We highlight critical system-level innovations, including thermal, optomechanical, and detector interfacing, as well as a validated performance model that includes sensor and electronics noise, optomechancial alignment tolerance, calibration and operation stability. These developments establish SHS as a scalable, high-fidelity spectroscopic solution for the next generation of space science missions.