Spectral calibration at the picometer level on SCDU (spectral calibration development unit)

Abstract

SCDU (Spectral Calibration Development Unit) is a vacuum test bed that was built and operated for the SIM-Planetquest Mission and has successfully demonstrated the calibration of spectral instrument error to an accuracy of better than 20 picometers. This performance is consistent with the 1 micro-arc second goal of SIM. The calibration procedure demonstrated in the test bed is traceable to the SIM flight instrument. This article is a review of all aspects of the design and operation of the hardware as well as the methodology for spectral calibration. Spectral calibration to better than 20 picometers and implications for flight are discussed.