FIRE: Development of an Innovative Infrared Spectrometer for the Magellan Telescopes

FIRE：为麦哲伦望远镜开发创新型红外光谱仪

• 批准号: 0619490
• 负责人: Robert Simcoe
• 金额: $ 173.06万
• 依托单位: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-07-15 至 2010-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0619490&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: FIRE; Development; Innovative; Infrared; Spectrometer; FIRE; Development; Innovative; Infrared; Spectrometer

AST-0619490Robert Simcoe, Adam Burgasser, and Paul SchechterMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyProfessors Robert Simcoe, Adam Burgasser and Paul Schechter of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will construct, calibrate and commission the Folded-Port Infrared Echellette (FIRE)- a moderate resolution near infrared spectrograph for use with the twin 6.5-meter Magellan telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. Intellectual Merit: FIRE is a science-driven instrument, optimized for spectral line studies of faint astronomical sources at near infrared wavelengths. FIRE's unique combination of spectral resolution, complete wavelength coverage and high sensitivity will enable significant advances in many areas of astrophysics, including: studies of the early universe, gamma ray bursts, the intergalactic medium, galaxy formation, supermassive black holes, star formation, low mass stars, brown dwarfs, planet formation, and Kuiper belt objects. FIRE's simple design makes it a versatile, user-friendly instrument. FIRE will be the first facility infrared spectrograph for Magellan, and has been identified as a top-priority instrument by Magellan's Science Advisory Council (SAC). Its innovative design provides complete spectral coverage over the entire 0.9-2.5 micron band in a single exposure, offering both moderate resolution cross-dispersed (R= 6000) and low resolution prism-dispersed (R=1200) broadband spectroscopy. Its primary mode provides sufficient resolution to mitigate the strong atmospheric OH emission foreground, while still maintaining sensitivity to detect faint, near-infrared sources. Both modes achieve high throughput through the use of prisms as dispersing (or cross-dispersing) elements. A low noise, large format HgCdTe detector accommodates a spectral format that is simultaneously broadband and high resolution. FIRE's compact design will expedite construction and installation, while keeping its cost low relative to cutting-edge infrared spectrometers on comparable telescopes. Much of the design work has already been completed. FIRE will be assembled and calibrated at MIT throughout CY 2007-2008, and shipped to Magellan for commissioning and regular science operations in late 2008.Broader Impact: As the first facility, infrared spectrograph for Magellan, FIRE will dramatically enhance the capabilities of these world-class telescopes, and by extension, the research of astronomers at consortium institutions (Carnegie Observatories, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Arizona and the University of Michigan). It will also be available to US national astronomers through open competition. FIRE's use at Magellan will enable young researchers to develop their future potential by learning the tools of infrared spectroscopy and its application to experimental astrophysics. All consortium members encourage students to formulate, apply for and carry out research programs with Magellan facilities, and strong support is given to members of under-represented groups through programs such as the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

AST-0619490ROBERT SIMCOE，ADAM BURGASSER和PAUL SCHECHTERMASACHUSETTS技术专业研究所Robert Simcoe，Adam Burgasser，Adam Burgasser和Massachusetts技术研究所的Paul Schechter将构建，校准和委托使用Inspropt的折叠式Echellette（Fire）。智利Las Campanas天文台的望远镜。 知识分子优点：火是一种以科学为导向的工具，可针对接近红外波长的微弱天文来源进行优化。 Fire的光谱分辨率，完整的波长覆盖范围和高灵敏度的独特组合将在许多领域的天体物理学中取得重大进步，包括：早期宇宙的研究，伽马射线爆发，层间媒介，银河系组，星系组，超大型黑孔，超大型黑洞，恒星形成，低质量星星，低质量星星，棕色的dwarfs，Planeet soret cormation，Planet cormation和Kuipers和Kuipers和Kuipers和Kuipers。 Fire的简单设计使其成为一种多功能，用户友好的乐器。火灾将是麦哲伦的第一台设施红外光谱仪，并已被麦哲伦科学咨询委员会（SAC）确定为高级仪器。它的创新设计在单个曝光中提供了整个0.9-2.5微米带的完整光谱覆盖范围，同时提供了中等分辨率的交叉分散（r = 6000）和低分辨率棱镜分散（r = 1200）宽带光谱。它的主要模式提供了足够的分辨率来减轻强大的大气OH发射前景，同时仍保持灵敏度检测微弱的近红外来源。两种模式通过使用棱镜作为分散（或交叉分散）元素来实现高通量。低噪声，大格式HGCDTE检测器可容纳宽带和高分辨率的光谱格式。 Fire的紧凑型设计将加快构造和安装的速度，同时相对于可比较望远镜的前沿红外光谱仪保持低廉的成本。许多设计工作已经完成。 FIRE will be assembled and calibrated at MIT throughout CY 2007-2008, and shipped to Magellan for commissioning and regular science operations in late 2008.Broader Impact: As the first facility, infrared spectrograph for Magellan, FIRE will dramatically enhance the capabilities of these world-class telescopes, and by extension, the research of astronomers at consortium institutions (Carnegie Observatories, the哈佛大学天体物理学中心，马萨诸塞州理工学院，亚利桑那大学和密歇根大学）。它也将通过公开竞争向美国国家天文学家提供。 Fire在Magellan的使用将使年轻的研究人员通过学习红外光谱的工具及其在实验性天体物理学中的应用来发展其未来潜力。 所有财团成员都鼓励学生通过麦哲伦设施制定，申请和执行研究计划，并通过马萨诸塞州技术学院的本科研究机会计划等计划给予不足的人群成员。