arXiv subjects

Ajin Prakash

Publications and source records attributed to Ajin Prakash.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

SAMPLE -- Stratospheric Altitude Microbiology Probe for Life Existence -- A Method of Collection of Stratospheric Samples Using Balloon-Borne Payload System

The Earth possesses many environmental extremes that mimic conditions on extraterrestrial worlds. The stratosphere at 30-40 km altitude closely resembles the surface of Mars in terms of pressure, temperature, and radiation levels (UV, proton, and Galactic cosmic rays). While microbial life in the troposphere is well documented, the true upper limit of Earth's biosphere remains unclear. The stratosphere offers a promising environment to explore microbial survival in such extreme conditions. Despite its significance to astrobiology, this region remains largely unexplored due to difficulties in access and avoiding contamination. To address this, we have developed SAMPLE (Stratospheric Altitude Microbiology Probe for Life Existence), a balloon-borne payload designed to collect dust samples from the stratosphere and return them in conditions suitable for lab analysis. The entire system is novel and designed in-house, with weight- and stress-optimized components. The main payload includes three pre-sterilized sampling trays and a controller that determines altitude and governs tray operation. One tray will remain closed during flight (airborne control) and another on the ground (cleanroom control) to monitor contamination. Additional systems include environmental sensors, GPS trackers, cameras, and a Flight Termination Unit (FTU) to end the mission once sampling is complete. A parachute ensures the safe recovery of the payload. Upon retrieving the payload, the sampling trays (including controls) will be sent to a suitable laboratory where the samples will be examined for the presence and nature of collected material.

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arXiv2025

A multi-functional fiber positioning system for Extremely Large Telescopes

We present a conceptual design for a fiber positioning system for multi-object high-resolution spectroscopy, designed to be compatible with the upcoming large telescopes with a wide field of view. The design incorporates multiple Atmospheric Dispersion Correctors (ADCs) and tip-tilt mirrors that receive non-telecentric input from individual targets and direct it to the ADCs. Here, we introduce a mechanical design for the fiber positioner that accommodates the optics and operates in a curved focal plane with a Radius of Curvature (R) of 3m. This mechanical design provides four degrees of freedom to access the focal volume, enhancing targeting efficiency. The proposed design and an efficient target allocation algorithm ensure a targeting efficiency of approximately 80-100% for a primary observation session. We also present a methodology for target assignment, positioning, and quantification based on sequential and Monte Carlo (MC) algorithms. This method has been tested on realistic fields with varying target densities to validate its performance.

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arXiv2023

Atmospheric dispersion corrector for a multi-object spectroscopic mode of HROS-TMT

Highly multiplexed spectroscopic surveys have changed the astronomy landscape in recent years. However, these surveys are limited to low and medium spectral resolution. High spectral resolution spectroscopy is often photon starved and will benefit from a large telescope aperture. Multiplexed high-resolution surveys require a wide field of view and a large aperture for a suitable large number of bright targets. This requirement introduces several practical difficulties, especially for large telescopes, such as the future ELTs. Some of the challenges are the need for a wide field atmospheric dispersion corrector and to deal with the curved non-telecentric focal plane. Here, we present a concept of Multi-Object Spectroscopy (MOS) mode for TMT High-Resolution Optical Spectrograph (HROS), we have designed an atmospheric dispersion corrector for individual objects that fit inside a fiber positioner. We present the ZEMAX design and the performance of the atmospheric dispersion corrector for all elevations accessible by TMT.

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arXiv2022

Design of SCALES: A 2-5 Micron Coronagraphic Integral Field Spectrograph for Keck Observatory

We present the design of SCALES (Slicer Combined with Array of Lenslets for Exoplanet Spectroscopy) a new 2-5 micron coronagraphic integral field spectrograph under construction for Keck Observatory. SCALES enables low-resolution (R~50) spectroscopy, as well as medium-resolution (R~4,000) spectroscopy with the goal of discovering and characterizing cold exoplanets that are brightest in the thermal infrared. Additionally, SCALES has a 12x12" field-of-view imager that will be used for general adaptive optics science at Keck. We present SCALES's specifications, its science case, its overall design, and simulations of its expected performance. Additionally, we present progress on procuring, fabricating and testing long lead-time components.

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arXiv2022

Design of an IR Imaging Channel for the Keck Observatory SCALES Instrument

A next-generation instrument named, Slicer Combined with Array of Lenslets for Exoplanet Spectroscopy (SCALES), is being planned for the W. M. Keck Observatory. SCALES will have an integral field spectrograph (IFS) and a diffraction-limited imaging channel to discover and spectrally characterize the directly imaged exoplanets. Operating at thermal infrared wavelengths (1-5 micron, and a goal of 0.6-5 micron), the imaging channel of the SCALES is designed to cover a 12"x 12" field of view with low distortions and high throughput. Apart from expanding the mid-infrared science cases and providing a potential upgrade/alternative for the NIRC2, the H2RG detector of the imaging channel can take high-resolution images of the pupil to aid the alignment process.Further, the imaging camera would also assist in small field acquisition for the IFS arm. In this work, we present the optomechanical design of the imager and evaluate its capabilities and performances.

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arXiv2019

Prospect for UV observations from the Moon. III. Assembly and ground calibration of Lunar Ultraviolet Cosmic Imager (LUCI)

The Lunar Ultraviolet Cosmic Imager (LUCI) is a near-ultraviolet (NUV) telescope with all-spherical mirrors, designed and built to fly as a scientific payload on a lunar mission with Team Indus - the original Indian entry to the Google Lunar X-Prize. Observations from the Moon provide a unique opportunity of a stable platform with an unobstructed view of the space at all wavelengths due to the absence of atmosphere and ionosphere. LUCI is an 80 mm aperture telescope, with a field of view of 27.6'x 20.4' and a spatial resolution of 5'', will scan the sky in the NUV (200-320 nm) domain to look for transient sources. We describe here the assembly, alignment, and calibration of the complete instrument. LUCI is now in storage in a class 1000 clean room and will be delivered to our flight partner in readiness for flight.

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arXiv2018

Wide-field Ultraviolet Imager for Astronomical Transient Studies

Though the ultraviolet (UV) domain plays a vital role in the studies of astronomical transient events, the UV time-domain sky remains largely unexplored. We have designed a wide-field UV imager that can be flown on a range of available platforms, such as high-altitude balloons, CubeSats, and larger space missions. The major scientific goals are the variability of astronomical sources, detection of transients such as supernovae, novae, tidal disruption events, and characterizing AGN variability. The instrument has an 80 mm aperture with a circular field of view of 10.8 degrees, an angular resolution of around 22 arcsec, and a 240-390 nm spectral observation window. The detector for the instrument is a Microchannel Plate (MCP)-based image intensifier with both photon counting and integration capabilities. An FPGA-based detector readout mechanism and real-time data processing have been implemented. The imager is designed in such a way that its lightweight and compact nature are well fitted for the CubeSat dimensions. Here we present various design and developmental aspects of this UV wide-field transient explorer.

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arXiv2017

Near UV Imager with an MCP Based Photon Counting Detector

We are developing a compact UV Imager using light weight components, that can be flown on a small CubeSat or a balloon platform. The system has a lens-based optics that can provide an aberration-free image over a wide field of view. The backend instrument is a photon counting detector with off-the-shelf MCP, CMOS sensor and electronics. We are using a Z-stack MCP with a compact high voltage power supply and a phosphor screen anode, which is read out by a CMOS sensor and the associated electronics. The instrument can be used to observe solar system objects and detect bright transients from the upper atmosphere with the help of CubeSats or high altitude balloons. We have designed the imager to be capable of working in direct frame transfer mode as well in the photon-counting mode for single photon event detection. The identification and centroiding of each photon event are done using an FPGA-based data acquisition and real-time processing system.

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arXiv2017

Development of Data Acquisition Methods for an FPGA-Based Photon Counting Detector

MCP-based detectors are widely used in the ultraviolet (UV) region due to their low noise levels, high sensitivity and good spatial and temporal resolution. We have developed a compact near-UV (NUV) detector for high-altitude balloon and space flights, using off-the-shelf MCP, CMOS sensor, and optics. The detector is designed to be capable of working in the direct frame transfer mode as well in the photon-counting mode for single photon event detection. The identification and centroiding of each photon event are done using an FPGA-based data acquisition and real-time processing system. In this paper, we discuss various algorithms and methods used in both operating modes, as well as their implementation on the hardware.

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arXiv2017

Prospect for UV observations from the Moon. II. Instrumental Design of an Ultraviolet Imager LUCI

We present a design for a near-ultraviolet (NUV) imaging instrument which may be flown on a range of available platforms, including high-altitude balloons, nanosatellites, or space missions. Although all current UV space missions adopt a Ritchey-Chretain telescope design, this requires aspheric optics, making the optical system complex, expensive and challenging for manufacturing and alignment. An all-spherical configuration is a cost-effective and simple solution. We have aimed for a small payload which may be launched by different platforms and we have designed a compact, light-weight payload which will withstand all launch loads. No other UV payloads have been previously reported with an all-spherical optical design for imaging in the NUV domain and a weight below 2 kg. Our main science goal is focussed on bright UV sources not accessible by the more sensitive large space UV missions. Here we discuss various aspects of design and development of the complete instrument, the structural and finite-element analysis of the system performed to ensure that the payload withstands launch-load stresses and vibrations. We expect to fly this telescope -- Lunar Ultraviolet Cosmic Imager (LUCI) -- on a spacecraft to the Moon as part of the Indian entry into Google X-Prize competition. Observations from the Moon provide a unique opportunity to observe the sky from a stable platform far above the Earth's atmosphere. However, we will explore other opportunities as well, and will fly this telescope on a high-altitude balloon later this year.

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arXiv2016

A software package for evaluating the performance of a star sensor operation

We have developed a low-cost off-the-shelf component star sensor (StarSense) for use in minisatellites and CubeSats to determine the attitude of a satellite in orbit. StarSense is an imaging camera with a limiting magnitude of 6.5, which extracts information from star patterns it records in the images. The star sensor implements a centroiding algorithm to find centroids of the stars in the image, a Geometric Voting algorithm for star pattern identification, and a QUEST algorithm for attitude quaternion calculation. Here, we describe the software package to evaluate the performance of these algorithms as a star sensor single operating system. We simulate the ideal case where sky background and instrument errors are omitted, and a more realistic case where noise and camera parameters are added to the simulated images. We evaluate such performance parameters of the algorithms as attitude accuracy, calculation time, required memory, star catalog size, sky coverage, etc., and estimate the errors introduced by each algorithm. This software package is written for use in MATLAB. The testing is parametrized for different hardware parameters, such as the focal length of the imaging setup, the field of view (FOV) of the camera, angle measurement accuracy, distortion effects, etc., and therefore, can be applied to evaluate the performance of such algorithms in any star sensor. For its hardware implementation on our StarSense, we are currently porting the codes in form of functions written in C. This is done keeping in view its easy implementation on any star sensor electronics hardware.

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arXiv2016

Pointing System for the Balloon-Borne Astronomical Payloads

We describe the development and implementation of a light-weight, fully autonomous 2-axis pointing and stabilization system designed for balloon-borne astronomical payloads. The system is developed using off-the-shelf components such as Arduino Uno controller, HMC 5883L magnetometer, MPU-9150 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and iWave GPS receiver unit. It is a compact and rugged system which can also be used to take images/video in a moving vehicle, or in areal photography. The system performance is evaluated from the ground, as well as in conditions simulated to imitate the actual flight by using a tethered launch.

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arXiv2016

Noise modeling and analysis of an IMU-based attitude sensor: improvement of performance by filtering and sensor fusion

We describe the characterization and removal of noise present in the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) MPU-6050. This IMU was initially used in an attitude sensor (AS) developed in-house, and subsequently implemented in a pointing and stabilization platform developed for small balloon-borne astronomical payloads. We found that the performance of the IMU degrades with time due to the accumulation of different errors. Using the Allan variance analysis method, we identified the different components of noise present in the IMU and verified the results using a power spectral density analysis (PSD). We tried to remove the high-frequency noise using smoothing filters, such as moving average filter and Savitzky-Golay filter. Although we did manage to filter some of the high-frequency noise, the performance of these filters was not satisfactory for our application. We found the distribution of the random noise present in the IMU using a probability density analysis, and identified the noise to be white Gaussian in nature which we successfully removed by a Kalman filter in real time.

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arXiv2016

Balloon UV Experiments for Astronomical and Atmospheric Observations

The ultraviolet (UV) window has been largely unexplored through balloons for astronomy. We discuss here the development of a compact near-UV spectrograph with fiber optics input for balloon ights. It is a modified Czerny-Turner system built using off-the-shelf components. The system is portable and scalable to different telescopes. The use of re ecting optics reduces the transmission loss in the UV. It employs an image-intensified CMOS sensor, operating in photon counting mode, as the detector of choice. A lightweight pointing system developed for stable pointing to observe astronomical sources is also discussed, together with the methods to improve its accuracy, e.g. using the in-house build star sensor and others. Our primary scientific objectives include the observation of bright Solar System objects such as visible to eye comets, Moon and planets. Studies of planets can give us valuable information about the planetary aurorae, helping to model and compare atmospheres of other planets and the Earth. The other major objective is to look at the diffuse UV atmospheric emission features (airglow lines), and at column densities of trace gases. This UV window includes several lines important to atmospheric chemistry, e.g. SO2, O3, HCHO, BrO. The spectrograph enables simultaneous measurement of various trace gases, as well as provides better accuracy at higher altitudes compared to electromechanical trace gas measurement sondes. These lines contaminate most astronomical observations but are poorly characterized. Other objectives may include sprites in the atmosphere and meteor ashes from high altitude burn-outs. Our recent experiments and observations with high-altitude balloons are discussed.

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arXiv2016

An Ultraviolet imager to study bright UV sources

We have designed and developed a compact ultraviolet imaging payload to fly on a range of possible platforms such as high altitude balloon experiments, cubesats, space missions, etc. The primary science goals are to study the bright UV sources (mag < 10) and also to look for transients in the Near UV (200 - 300 nm) domain. Our first choice is to place this instrument on a spacecraft going to the Moon as part of the Indian entry into Google lunar X-Prize competition. The major constraints for the instrument are, it should be lightweight (< 2Kg), compact (length < 50cm) and cost effective. The instrument is an 80 mm diameter Cassegrain telescope with a field of view of around half a degree designated for UV imaging. In this paper we will discuss about the various science cases that can be performed by having observations with the instrument on different platforms. We will also describe the design, development and the current state of implementation of the instrument. This includes opto-mechanical and electrical design of the instrument. We have adopted an all spherical optical design which would make the system less complex to realize and a cost effective solution compared to other telescope configuration. The structural design has been chosen in such a way that it will ensure that the instrument could withstand all the launch load vibrations. An FPGA based electronics board is used for the data acquisition, processing and CCD control. We will also briefly discuss about the hardware implementation of the detector interface and algorithms for the detector readout and data processing.

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arXiv2016

Measurements of gondola motion on a stratospheric balloon flight

Balloon experiments are an economically feasible method of conducting observations in astronomy that are not possible from the ground. The astronomical payload may include a telescope, a detector, and a pointing/stabilization system. Determining the attitude of the payload is of primary importance in such applications, to accurately point the detector/telescope to the desired direction. This is especially important in generally unstable lightweight balloon flights. However, the conditions at float altitudes, which can be reached by zero pressure balloons, could be more stable, enabling accurate pointings. We have used the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), placed on a stratospheric zero pressure balloon, to observe 3-axis motion of a balloon payload over a fight time of 4.5 hours, from launch to the float altitude of 31.2 km. The balloon was launched under nominal atmospheric conditions on May 8th 2016, from a Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Balloon Facility, Hyderabad.

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arXiv2015

An Overview of High-Altitude Balloon Experiments at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics

We have initiated the High-Altitude Ballooning programme at Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, in the year 2011 with the primary purpose of developing and flying low-cost scientific payloads on a balloon-borne platform. The main aim is the observations of extended nearby objects (e.g. comets) and of diffuse sources (e.g. zodiacal light or airglow) with wide field of view (FOV) UV instruments from near space (20 to 30 km). A brief summary and the results of the tethered flights carried out at IIA CREST campus are given in Ref.~1. Here we present an overview of the nine free-flying balloon experiments conducted from March 2013 to November 2014. We describe the launch procedures, payloads, methods of tracking and recovery. Since we fall in the light balloon category --- payload weight is limited to less than 6 kg --- we use the 3-D printer to fabricate lightweight boxes and structures for our experiments. We discuss the flight and scientific data obtained from different launches and the development of the in-house lightweight sensors and controllers, as well as a fully-fledged 2-axis pointing and stabilization system, for the flights.

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