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M. G. Brown, M. Schubnell, G. Tarle (U. Michigan), R. Smith, M. Bonati, D. Guzman (Caltech), D. Figer (IDTL), N. Mostek, S. Mufson (Indiana), D. Cole, S. Seshardi (JPL), SNAP Collaboration, SNAP Simulation Team
To determine the nature of dark energy will require differentiation between cosmologies with divergent equations of state and time evolution. SNAP will utilize type Ia SNe to construct a Hubble diagram extending to high redshift. The greatest leverage on cosmological parameters results from the observation of SNe with z > 1 where the rest-frame optical light has shifted into the NIR. Precision photometry in the NIR is thus essential to the science goals of SNAP and will require low noise, high QE detectors with uniform intra-pixel response, a large field of view and low dark current. This has led us to work with Raytheon Vision Systems and Rockwell Science Center to develop large format, 2K x 2K, 1.7 \mu m cutoff HgCdTe detectors that will meet SNAP science requirements. Extensive simulations of the SNAP supernova mission, including various input cosmologies, type Ia light curve and spectral templates, propagation effects, telescope performance and realistic NIR detector characteristics show very promising results for precision NIR photometry.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #4
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.