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The new device is a so-called laser frequency comb developed by the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), as announced on Tuesday.
The laser frequency comb produces light with an exceptionally stable frequency spectrum characterized by evenly distributed lines. As CSEM explains, it serves as a visual benchmark. This allows a more precise determination of the speed at which a star is moving toward or away from Earth.
The new instrument is part of the Near Infrared Red Planet Searcher (Nirps), jointly managed by the Department of Astronomy at the University of Geneva (Unige) and the University of Montreal (Canada). CSEM said that with the new technology, Nirps will be calibrated with unprecedented accuracy and precision. It should help unlock the secrets of distant planets. This includes searching for signs of extraterrestrial life.
From the speed at which a star moves, researchers can ultimately determine whether there are planets orbiting it. That’s because when a planet orbits its star, its gravity causes the parent star to move back and forth, or “wobble.” The more precise these measurements are, the more information researchers can learn about the mass of planets, for example.
The Nirps consortium expects this device to be a decisive impetus for unlocking the secrets of the universe, CSEM wrote in the statement. “This will enable Nirps to better determine the behavior and properties of Earth-like exoplanets, ushering in a new era of exploration and discovery,” the statement said.
(SDA)
Source : Blick
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