Paper detail

Science Yield of an Improved Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST)

The Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey's highest recommended space mission was a Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) to efficiently conduct three kinds of studies: dark energy surveys, exoplanet surveys, and guest surveys. In this paper we illustrate four potential WFIRST payloads that accomplish these objectives and that fully utilize optical and technical advances made since the community input to the Decadal Survey. These improvements, developed by our group, are: unobscured 1.3 or 1.5 m apertures; simultaneous dual focal lengths delivering pixel scales of 0.18" for imaging and 0.38" or 0.45" for slitless spectroscopy; the use of a prism in converging light for slitless spectroscopy; and payload features that allow up to 270 days/year observing the Galactic Bulge. These factors combine to allow WFIRST payloads that provide improved survey rates compared to previous mission concepts. In this report we perform direct comparisons of survey speeds for constant survey depth using our optical and exposure-time tools previously developed for JDEM. We further compare these four alternative WFIRST configurations to JDEM-Omega and to the European Space Agency's Euclid mission, and to an alternative Euclid configuration making use of the lessons learned here that delivers performance approaching that of WFIRST. We find that the unobstructed pupil is a major benefit to weak lensing owing to its tighter point spread function, improved signal to noise, and higher resolved galaxy count. Using two simultaneous plate scales in a fully focal system is practical and simplifies the optical train, and the use of a prism in converging light offers improved throughput compared to a grism. We find that a 45 degree outer baffle cutoff angle, combined with fully articulated solar panels and K-band antenna, substantially increase the exoplanet yield. Presented at the 217th AAS conference.