Dr. Conor A. Nixon Profile

Dr. Conor A. Nixon

at NASA Goddard Space Flight Ctr

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (9)

Proceedings Article | 29 August 2024 Presentation + Paper

Considerations for a next-generation Great Observatory class space-based interferometer for far-infrared astronomy

Berke Ricketti, Locke Spencer, David Leisawitz, Lee Mundy, David Wilner, Chris Benson, Gerard van Belle, Colm Bracken, Giorgio Savini, Jeremy Scott, William Grainger, Hannah Rana, Matteo Bonato, Duncan Farrah, Conor Nixon

Proceedings Volume 13095, 130951T (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3019681

KEYWORDS: Spatial resolution, Observatories, Telescopes, Astronomical interferometers, Observational astronomy, Space telescopes, Interferometers, James Webb Space Telescope, Infrared telescopes, Galactic astronomy

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Astronomy at far-infrared (far-IR) wavelengths is essential to our understanding of the evolution of the cosmos, from the star formation history of galaxies to how the ice distribution affects the formation of extrasolar planetary systems. The Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array have already produced ground-breaking astronomical observations with high angular resolution spanning the visible to sub-millimetre wavelength regimes. However, this presents a gap in the far-IR, from roughly 30−400μm, where ground-based observations are largely intractable due to the opacity of Earth’s atmosphere. Indeed, no telescope, observatory, or interferometry array has ever achieved sub-arcsecond angular resolution over this wavelength range. A space-based solution is needed. However, a space-based far-IR telescope capable of subarcsecond angular resolution and high sensitivity, at a cost comparable to the largest space missions to date, presents unique physical, practical, and engineering challenges. In this paper, we envisage what a far-IR Great Observatory class mission might look like in the context of the already-studied Origins Space Telescope (OST) and the Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT). We begin with a historical reflection of far-IR missions, including OST and the recommendations by the Astro2020 Decadal Survey for a de-scoped mission. We use this to motivate the recommendation of a space-based interferometer as a reasonable path towards sub-arcsecond angular resolution at far-IR wavelengths. Using the SPIRIT mission concept as inspiration, we consider multiple point designs for a two element, structurally connected spatial-spectral space-based far-IR interferometer to understand the implications on achieved angular resolution and estimate total mission cost in context of the Decadal Survey recommended far-IR Great Observatory cost cap. This paper illustrates the unique capabilities only possible through a space-based far-IR double Fourier interferometry mission capable of sub-arcsecond resolution.

Proceedings Article | 20 October 2023 Presentation + Paper

The science case for a far-infrared interferometer in the era of JWST and ALMA

David Leisawitz, Matteo Bonato, Duncan Farrah, T. Tupper Hyde, Aláine Lee, Joshua Bennett Lovell, Brenda Matthews, Lee Mundy, Conor Nixon, Petr Pokorny, Berke Ricketti, Giorgio Savini, Jeremy Scott, Irene Shivaei, Locke Spencer, Kate Su, C. Megan Urry, David Wilner

Proceedings Volume 12686, 1268609 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2682235

KEYWORDS: James Webb Space Telescope, Astronomical interferometers, Galactic astronomy, Spatial resolution, Planets, Telescopes, Spectral resolution, Observatories, Stars, Interferometers

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SPIE Journal Paper | 27 August 2022

Circular multireflection cell for midinfrared laser spectroscopic trace gas analysis

Thuc Phan, Dat Tran, Jaime Esper, Conor Nixon, George Nehmetallah

OE, Vol. 61, Issue 08, 085104, (August 2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.OE.61.8.085104

KEYWORDS: Gas lasers, Carbon monoxide, Laser spectroscopy, Spectroscopy, Mid-IR, Photodetectors, Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, Absorption, Optical engineering, Sensors

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Proceedings Article | 30 May 2022 Presentation + Paper

Carbon dioxide mid-infrared laser spectroscopy with a circular multi-reflection (CMR) cell

Thuc Phan, Dat Tran, Jaime Esper, Conor Nixon, George Nehmetallah

Proceedings Volume 12116, 121160U (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2618839

KEYWORDS: Carbon monoxide, Mid-IR, Photodetectors, Absorption, Calibration

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SPIE Journal Paper | 21 April 2021

Observations of Mars with ALMA: potential for future constraints of global circulation models

Maxwell C. Parks, Conor Nixon, Geronimo Villanueva, Michael Smith, Alain S. Khayat, Alexander Thelen, Eric Villard, Steven Charnley, Patrick G. Irwin

JATIS, Vol. 7, Issue 02, 025001, (April 2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JATIS.7.2.025001

KEYWORDS: Mars, Atmospheric modeling, Data modeling, Spatial resolution, Observatories, Calibration, Interferometers, 3D modeling, Interferometry, Climatology

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Proceedings Article | 12 April 2021 Presentation + Paper

High resolution gas mid-infrared spectroscopy using circular multi-reflection (CMR) cell

Thuc Phan, Dat Tran, Jaime Esper, Conor Nixon, George Nehmetallah

Proceedings Volume 11741, 117411K (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2585835

KEYWORDS: Mid-IR, Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, Spectroscopy, Spectroscopes, Semiconductor lasers, Remote sensing, Optical alignment, Molecules, Medical diagnostics, Laser spectroscopy

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Proceedings Article | 18 September 2018 Presentation + Paper

Overview of Primitive Object Volatile Explorer (PrOVE) CubeSat or Smallsat concept

Pamela Clark, Tilak Hewagama, Shahid Aslam, James Bauer, Michael Daly, Lori Feaga, Dave Folta, Nicolas Gorius, Kyle Hughes, Terry Hurford, Donald Jennings, Timothy Livengood, Michael Mumma, Conor Nixon, Jessica Sunshine, Geronimo Villanueva, Kevin Brown, Ben Malphrus, Aaron Zucherman

Proceedings Volume 10769, 107690J (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2321264

KEYWORDS: Comets, Space operations, Cameras, Carbon monoxide, Mid-IR, Spatial resolution

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SPIE Journal Paper | 14 August 2018

Solar system science with the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope

Bryan J. Holler, Stefanie N. Milam, James M. Bauer, Charles Alcock, Michele T. Bannister, Gordon L. Bjoraker, Dennis Bodewits, Amanda S. Bosh, Marc W. Buie, Tony L. Farnham, Nader Haghighipour, Paul S. Hardersen, Alan W. Harris, Christopher M. Hirata, Henry H. Hsieh, Michael Kelley, Matthew M. Knight, Emily A. Kramer, Andrea Longobardo, Conor A. Nixon, Ernesto Palomba, Silvia Protopapa, Lynnae C. Quick, Darin Ragozzine, Vishnu Reddy, Jason D. Rhodes, Andy S. Rivkin, Gal Sarid, Amanda A. Sickafoose, Amy A. Simon, Cristina A. Thomas, David E. Trilling, Robert A. West

JATIS, Vol. 4, Issue 03, 034003, (August 2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JATIS.4.3.034003

KEYWORDS: Solar system, Satellites, Comets, Asteroids, Infrared telescopes, James Webb Space Telescope, Planets, Jupiter, Telescopes, Infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 2 May 2018 Presentation + Paper

Low-cost, compact, and robust gas abundance sensor package

Dat Tran, George Nehmetallah, Nicolas Gorius, Frank Ferguson, Jaime Esper, Natasha Johnson, Shahid Aslam, Conor Nixon

Proceedings Volume 10641, 106410Q (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2304639

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Calibration, Absorption, Carbon dioxide, Analog electronics, Gases, Infrared radiation, Light sources, Thermography, Lamps

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Showing 5 of 9 publications

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