Micro-arcsecond Astrometry Technology: Detector and Field Distortion Calibration

Abstract

Microarcsecond (μas) astrometry is an indispensable technique to detect earth-like exoplanets, fully characterize exoplanetary orbits, and measure their masses—information critical for assessing their habitability. Highly accurate astrometric measurements can also probe the nature of dark matter, the early universe, black holes, and neutron stars, thus providing unique data for new astrophysics. This paper presents technologies of calibrating detectors and field distortions for achieving narrow field μas relative astrometry with a focal plane array detector on a 6 m telescope.