Dewar design for optical noise reduction in very low signal applications

This paper describes design features that are being implemented in a purpose-built IR camera system to support the study of the solar corona during the 2019 Chile total eclipse. This mission is challenged by the relatively low, inband flux signal conditions present during the eclipse, and the larger system’s need to identify the specific, very narrow spectral bands of interest. With the features implemented within the dewar, the required improvement in scene contrast and detector sensitivity was achieved.