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[The BigBOSS experiment is a redshift survey designed to map the large scale structure of the universe and probe the nature of dark energy. Using massively-multiplexed _ber spectroscopy over 14,000 deg2 of sky, the survey will deliver more than 20 million galaxy and quasar redshifts. The resulting three dimensional sky map will contain signatures from primordial baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) that set a "standard ruler" distance scale. Using the BAO signature, BigBOSS will measure the cosmological distance scale to < 1% accuracy from 0.5

The nature of Dark Energy can by constrained by the precise determination of super-novae distance moduli in ultraviolet to near IR pass-bands. Space-based observations are required for these moduli to be measured with the scientifically required photometric accuracies. Consequently, robust pass-band filters operable at cryogenic temperatures (120-140K) are needed that have challenging performance attributes including high in-band transmission, low ripple, good out-ofband rejection, and moderate band-edge slope. We describe the requirements and performance of dielectric multi-layer filters with spectral profiles that are suitable for both achieving the science and for accurate calibration using plausible on-orbit measurement systems.

High detector quantum efficiency (QE) can greatly improve speed and performance of wide field instruments that strive for fast precision photometry. SNAP, a proposed satellite mission dedicated to exploring the nature of the dark energy will employ a very large focal plane instrumented with about equal number of CCD and NIR sensors totaling more than 600 million pixels covering roughly 0.7 square degrees on the sky. To precisely characterize the NIR detector QE, the SNAP project has put in place a test set-up capable of measuring absolute QE at the 5% level with the goal of ultimately reaching a precision better than 2%. Illumination of the NIR detectors is provided by either a quartz tungsten halogen lamp combined with a set of narrow band filters or a manually tunable monochromator. The two light sources feed an integrating sphere at a distance of roughly 60 cm from the detector to be tested and a calibrated InGaAs photodiode, mounted adjacent to the NIR detector provides absolute photon flux measurements. This paper describes instrumentation, performance and measurement procedures and summarizes results of detailed characterization of the QE on several SNAP devices as a function of wavelength.

Large format (1k x 1k and 2k x 2k) near infrared detectors manufactured by Rockwell Scientific Center and Raytheon Vision Systems are characterized as part of the near infrared R&D effort for SNAP (the Super-Nova/Acceleration Probe). These are hybridized HgCdTe focal plane arrays with a sharp high wavelength cut-off at 1.7 um. This cut-off provides a sufficiently deep reach in redshift while it allows at the same time low dark current operation of the passively cooled detectors at 140 K. Here the baseline SNAP near infrared system is briefly described and the science driven requirements for the near infrared detectors are summarized. A few results obtained during the testing of engineering grade near infrared devices procured for the SNAP project are highlighted. In particular some recent measurements that target correlated noise between adjacent detector pixels due to capacitive coupling and the response uniformity within individual detector pixels are discussed.

We present the baseline telescope design for the telescope for the SuperNova/Acceleration Probe (SNAP) space mission. SNAP’s purpose is to determine expansion history of the Universe by measuring the redshifts, magnitudes, and spectral classifications of thousands of supernovae with unprecedented accuracy. Discovering and measuring these supernovae demand both a wide optical field and a high sensitivity throughout the visible and near IR wavebands. We have adopted the annular-field three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) telescope configuration, whose classical aberrations (including chromatic) are zero. We show a preliminary optmechanical design that includes important features for stray light control and on-orbit adjustment and alignment of the optics. We briefly discuss stray light and tolerance issues, and present a preliminary wavefront error budget for the SNAP Telescope. We conclude by describing some of the design tasks being carried out during the current SNAP research and development phase.

The SuperNova/Acceleration Probe (SNAP) will measure precisely the cosmological expansion history over both the acceleration and deceleration epochs and thereby constrain the nature of the dark energy that dominates our universe today. The SNAP focal plane contains equal areas of optical CCDs and NIR sensors and an integral field spectrograph. Having over 150 million pixels and a field-of-view of 0.34 square degrees, the SNAP NIR system will be the largest yet constructed. With sensitivity in the range 0.9-1.7 μm, it will detect Type Ia supernovae between z = 1 and 1.7 and will provide follow-up precision photometry for all supernovae. HgCdTe technology, with a cut-off tuned to 1.7 μm, will permit passive cooling at 140 K while maintaining noise below zodiacal levels. By dithering to remove the effects of intrapixel variations and by careful attention to other instrumental effects, we expect to control relative photometric accuracy below a few hundredths of a magnitude. Because SNAP continuously revisits the same fields we will be able to achieve outstanding statistical precision on the photometry of reference stars in these fields, allowing precise monitoring of our detectors. The capabilities of the NIR system for broadening the science reach of SNAP are discussed.