Dr. Thomas Beck Profile

Dr. Thomas Beck

at Univ of Bern

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Author

Publications (13)

Proceedings Article | 12 July 2023 Open Access

The Rotating Mirror Assembly (RMA) onboard the Comet Interceptor mission: design, breadboard activities and development plan

Jérôme Jacobs, Jean-Yves Plesseria, Felix Althaus, Thomas Beck, Pierre Franco, Patrick Gailly, Dimce Iliev, Sylvain Keller, Etienne Lallemand, Bao Long Levan, Alexandra Mazzoli, Laurence Rossi, Augustin Thomas, Nicolas Thomas, Christoph Zimmermann, Christian Kintziger

Proceedings Volume 12777, 127775D (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2691005

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Shape memory alloys, Comets, Design and modelling, Coating, Particles, Space operations, Baffles, Astronomical imaging, Interfaces

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Proceedings Article | 13 December 2020 Presentation + Paper

CHEOPS, the ESA mission for exo-planets characterization: early operations and commissioning results

N. Rando, J. Asquier, C. Corral Van Damme, K. Isaak, F. Ratti, F. Safa, R. Southworth, C. Broeg, T. Beck, W. Benz, A. Fortier, M. Beck, A. Borges, R. Palacios, J. Martin, D. De Miguel, A. Pizarro

Proceedings Volume 11443, 1144314 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2567296

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Proceedings Article | 9 September 2019 Presentation + Paper

CHEOPS: the characterizing exoplanets satellite ready for launch

N. Rando, J. Asquier, C. Corral Van Damme, K. Isaak, F. Ratti, F. Safa, M. Gehler, R. Southworth, C. Broeg, T. Beck, W. Benz, A. Borges, D. Cortes, R. Palacios

Proceedings Volume 11116, 1111605 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2526020

KEYWORDS: Satellites, Space operations, Instrument modeling, Thermal modeling, Exoplanets, Interfaces, Planets, Telescopes, Systems engineering

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Proceedings Article | 8 August 2018 Paper

From a demonstration model to the flight model: AIV procedures and results for CHEOPS telescope

M. Bergomi, F. Biondi, D. Magrin, L. Marafatto, R. Ragazzoni, V. Viotto, M. Dima, D. Greggio, J. Farinato, L. Lessio, M. Munari, I. Pagano, E. Portaluri, M. Baroni, E. Battistelli, M. Marinai, A. Novi, M. Salatti, E. Tommasi, A. Deep, T. Beck, D. Piazza, W. Benz

Proceedings Volume 10698, 1069854 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313992

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Optical alignment, Telescopes, Space telescopes, Wavefronts, Monochromatic aberrations, Modulation transfer functions, Point spread functions, Mechanics, Exoplanets

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Proceedings Article | 12 July 2018 Paper

A comparison between the opto-thermo-mechanical model and lab measurements for CHEOPS

Demetrio Magrin, Valentina Viotto, Thomas Beck, Giordano Bruno, Marco Baroni, Andrea Turella, Massimo Marinai, Maria Bergomi, Federico Biondi, Matteo Munari, Luca Marafatto, Jacopo Farinato, Davide Greggio, Marco Dima, Gaetano Scandariato, Isabella Pagano, Roberto Ragazzoni, Martin Rieder, Martin Diego Busch, Daniele Piazza, Timothy Bandy, Christopher Broeg, Andrea Fortier, Eduardo Hernandez, Virginie Cessa, Willy Benz, Giampaolo Piotto, Ester Giannuzzo, Michele Dami, Enrico Battistelli, Mario Salatti, Elisabetta Tommasi, Luigi De Angelis, Atul Deep, Ivan Ngan, Francesco Ratti, Lisa Gambicorti, Nicola Rando

Proceedings Volume 10698, 106983B (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313406

KEYWORDS: Point spread functions, Telescopes, Interfaces, Mirrors, Data modeling, Mathematical modeling, Cryogenics, Spherical lenses, Sensors, Optical benches

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Proceedings Article | 17 November 2017 Open Access

CHEOPS: a space telescope for ultra-high precision photometry of exoplanet transits

V. Cessa, T. Beck, W. Benz, C. Broeg, D. Ehrenreich, A. Fortier, G. Peter, D. Magrin, I. Pagano, J.-Y. Plesseria, M. Steller, J. Szoke, N. Thomas, R. Ragazzoni, F. Wildi

Proceedings Volume 10563, 105631L (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2304164

KEYWORDS: Space telescopes, Planets, Exoplanets, Sensors, Telescopes, Stars, Electronics, Charge-coupled devices, Space operations, Point spread functions

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The CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS) is a joint ESA-Switzerland space mission dedicated to search for exoplanet transits by means of ultra-high precision photometry whose launch readiness is expected end 2017. The CHEOPS instrument will be the first space telescope dedicated to search for transits on bright stars already known to host planets. By being able to point at nearly any location on the sky, it will provide the unique capability of determining accurate radii for a subset of those planets for which the mass has already been estimated from ground-based spectroscopic surveys. CHEOPS will also provide precision radii for new planets discovered by the next generation ground-based transits surveys (Neptune-size and smaller). The main science goals of the CHEOPS mission will be to study the structure of exoplanets with radii typically ranging from 1 to 6 Earth radii orbiting bright stars. With an accurate knowledge of masses and radii for an unprecedented sample of planets, CHEOPS will set new constraints on the structure and hence on the formation and evolution of planets in this mass range. To reach its goals CHEOPS will measure photometric signals with a precision of 20 ppm in 6 hours of integration time for a 9th magnitude star. This corresponds to a signal to noise of 5 for a transit of an Earth-sized planet orbiting a solar-sized star (0.9 solar radii). This precision will be achieved by using a single frame-transfer backside illuminated CCD detector cool down at 233K and stabilized within ~10 mK . The CHEOPS optical design is based on a Ritchey-Chretien style telescope with 300 mm effective aperture diameter, which provides a defocussed image of the target star while minimizing straylight using a dedicated field stop and baffle system. As CHEOPS will be in a LEO orbit, straylight suppression is a key point to allow the observation of faint stars. The telescope will be the only payload on a spacecraft platform providing pointing stability of < 8 arcsec rms, power of 60W for instrument operations and downlink transmission of at least 1.2GBit/day. Both CHEOPS paylaod and platform will rely mainly on components with flight heritage. The baseline CHEOPS mission fits within the technical readiness requirements, short development time and the cost envelope defined by ESA in its first call for S-missions. It represents a breakthrough opportunity in furthering our understanding of the formation and evolution of planetary systems.

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Proceedings Article | 25 September 2017 Open Access

The CHEOPS (characterising exoplanet satellite) mission: telescope optical design, development status and main technical and programmatic challenges

T. Beck, L. Gambicorti, C. Broeg, V. Cessa, A. Fortier, D. Piazza, D. Ehrenreich, D. Magrin, J.Y. Plesseria, G. Peter, I. Pagano, M. Steller, Z. Kovacs, R. Ragazzoni, F. Wildi, W. Benz

Proceedings Volume 10562, 1056218 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2296216

KEYWORDS: Space operations, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Charge-coupled devices, Electronics, Scanning electron microscopy, Sensors, Stars, Interfaces, Exoplanets

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Proceedings Article | 29 July 2016 Paper

CHEOPS: status summary of the instrument development

T. Beck, C. Broeg, A. Fortier, V. Cessa, L. Malvasio, D. Piazza, W. Benz, N. Thomas, D. Magrin, V. Viotto, M. Bergomi, R. Ragazzoni, I. Pagano, G. Peter, M. Buder, J. Plesseria, M. Steller, R. Ottensamer, D. Ehrenreich, C. Van Damme, K. Isaak, F. Ratti, N. Rando, I. Ngan

Proceedings Volume 9904, 99042A (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234562

KEYWORDS: Space telescopes, Planets, Telescopes, Charge-coupled devices, Stars, Space operations, Sensors, Scanning electron microscopy, Point spread functions, Electronics

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CHEOPS (CHaracterizing ExOPlanets Satellite) is the first ESA Small Mission as part of the ESA Cosmic Vision program 2015-2025. The mission was formally adopted in early February 2014 with a planned launch readiness end of 2017. The mission lead is performed in a partnership between Switzerland, led by the University of Bern, and the European Space Agency with important contributions from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The mission is dedicated to searching for exoplanetary transits by performing ultrahigh precision photometry on bright starts already known to host planets whose mass has been already estimated through ground based observations. The instrument is an optical Ritchey-Chretien telescope of 30 cm clear aperture using a single CCD detector. The optical system is designed to image a de-focused PSF onto the focal plane with very stringent stability and straylight rejection requirements providing a FoV of 0.32 degrees full cone. The system design is adapted to meet the top-level science requirements, which ask for a photometric precision of 20ppm, in 6 hours integration time, on transit measurements of G5 dwarf stars with V-band magnitudes in the range 6≤V≤9 mag. Additionally they ask for a photometric precision of 85 ppm in 3 hours integration time of Neptune-size planets transiting K-type dwarf stars with V-band magnitudes as faint as V=12 mag. Given the demanding schedule and cost constrains, the mission relies mostly on components with flight heritage for the platform as well as for the payload components. Nevertheless, several new developments are integrated into the design as for example the telescope structure and the very low noise, high stability CCD front end electronics. The instrument and mission have gone through critical design review in fall 2015 / spring 2016. This paper describes the current instrument and mission design with a focus on the instrument. It outlines the technical challenges and selected design implementation. Based on the current status, the instrument noise budget is presented including the current best estimate for instrument performance. The current instrument design meets the science requirements and mass and power margins are adequate for the current development status.

Proceedings Article | 29 July 2016 Paper

Aligning the demonstration model of CHEOPS

M. Bergomi, F. Biondi, L. Marafatto, M. Dima, D. Greggio, J. Farinato, D. Magrin, R. Ragazzoni, V. Viotto, M. Gullieuszik, G. Farisato, L. Lessio, E. Portaluri, M. Munari, I. Pagano, M. Marinai, A. Novi, C. Pompei, D. Piazza, T. Beck, V. Cessa, W. Benz

Proceedings Volume 9904, 990439 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232136

KEYWORDS: Integrated optics, Thermography, Exoplanets, Thermal modeling, Optical alignment, Mirrors, Neodymium, Monochromatic aberrations, Wavefronts, Spherical lenses

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Proceedings Article | 22 July 2016 Paper

Analytical optimization and test validation of the submicron dimensional stability of the CHEOPS space telescope's CFRP structure

L. Blecha, D. Zindel, H. Cottard, T. Beck, V. Cessa, C. Broeg, F. Ratti, N. Rando

Proceedings Volume 9912, 99121G (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232956

KEYWORDS: Optics manufacturing, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Mirrors, Stars, Temperature metrology, Finite element methods, Scanning tunneling microscopy, Thermal modeling, Statistical modeling

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The CHEOPS (CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite), which is an ESA mission developed in cooperation with Switzerland and a number of other member-states, is the first one dedicated to search for transits by means of ultrahigh precision photometry on bright stars already known to host planets. The optical design is based on a Ritchey-Chretien style telescope to provide a de-focussed image of the target stars.

The telescope’s mirrors M1, M2 as well as the focal plane detector are supported by a thermally controlled CFRP structure suspended on isostatic mounts. The dimensional stability of the structural system supporting the optics is a key requirement as it directly impacts the instrument’s accuracy. The M1 and M2 mirrors are supported by a tubular CFRP telescope design which has been optimized by analyses down to carbon fibre layer level with the support of extensive sample test results for model correlation and accurate dimensional stability predictions. This sample characterization test campaign has been conducted on samples with different carbon fibre layups (orientation and stack sequence) to measure accurately the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) over a wide temperature range extending from -80°C to +80°C. Using the correlated Finite Element Model, the fibre orientation layup that minimized the relative displacement between the M1 and M2 mirrors, including the consideration of the thermo-elastic contributions of the isostatic mounts on the overall stability of this optical system, has been identified and selected for the baseline design of the CHEOPS Structure.

A dedicated Structural and Thermal Model (STM2), which was then refurbished to a PFM, was manufactured and tested with an ad hoc setup to verify the overall structural stability of the optical train assembly [2]. The relative distance between M1 and M2 was measured under thermal vacuum conditions using laser interferometer techniques. Thermal cycling tests were initially conducted to eliminate and characterize settling effects. Then, the structure’s stability was measured at three stabilised operational temperatures: -5, -10 and -15°C. The thermally induced M1-M2 misalignment on the optical axis was measured to be between -0.156 and -0.168 micron/°C. Relative mirror tilt and lateral centre shifts were also measured. The obtained focal distance, tilt and centre shift stability between mirrors M1 and M2 were all compliant with the system level requirements such that both an STM and PFM model of the CHEOPS CFRP Structure were successfully qualified and delivered in due time for integration on the spacecraft.

Proceedings Article | 28 August 2014 Paper

AIV procedure for a CHEOPS demonstration model

M. Bergomi, V. Viotto, D. Magrin, M. Dima, D. Greggio, J. Farinato, L. Marafatto, R. Ragazzoni, M. Munari, I. Pagano, G. Scandariato, S. Scuderi, T. Beck, R. Buxton, D. Piazza, W. Benz, C. Broeg, V. Cessa, G. Piotto

Proceedings Volume 9143, 91435B (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2056635

KEYWORDS: Interfaces, Mirrors, Optical alignment, Telescopes, Point spread functions, Tolerancing, Charge-coupled devices, Space telescopes, Sensors, Optical benches

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Proceedings Article | 28 August 2014 Paper

CHEOPS: a space telescope for ultra-high precision photometry of exoplanet transits

Andrea Fortier, Thomas Beck, Willy Benz, Christopher Broeg, Virginie Cessa, David Ehrenreich, Nicolas Thomas

Proceedings Volume 9143, 91432J (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2056687

KEYWORDS: Planets, Space telescopes, Space operations, Exoplanets, Telescopes, Sensors, Stars, Charge-coupled devices, Photometry, CCD image sensors

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Proceedings Article | 2 August 2014 Paper

Shaping the PSF to nearly top-hat profile: CHEOPS laboratory results

Demetrio Magrin, Jacopo Farinato, Gabriele Umbriaco, Kalyan Kumar Radhakrishnan Santhakumari, Maria Bergomi, Marco Dima, Davide Greggio, Luca Marafatto, Roberto Ragazzoni, Valentina Viotto, Matteo Munari, Isabella Pagano, Gaetano Scandariato, Salvatore Scuderi, Giampaolo Piotto, Thomas Beck, Willy Benz, Christopher Broeg, Virginie Cessa, Andrea Fortier, Daniele Piazza

Proceedings Volume 9143, 91434L (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055858

KEYWORDS: Point spread functions, Holography, Diffusers, Sensors, Optical components, Mirrors, Diffraction, Exoplanets, Space telescopes, Cameras

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