| Type |
Conference Paper |
| Names |
Henry A. Kobulnicky, Kenneth H. Nordsieck, Eric B. Burgh, Michael P. Smith, Jeffrey W. Percival, Ted B. Williams, Darragh O'Donoghue |
| Conference Name |
Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Conference Series |
| Volume |
4841 |
| Pages |
1634-1644 |
| Date |
March 1, 2003 |
| Short Title |
Prime focus imaging spectrograph for the Southern African large telescope |
| URL |
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003SPIE.4841.1634K |
| Library Catalog |
NASA ADS |
| Abstract |
The Prime Focus Imaging Spectrograph (PFIS) will be the workhorse
first-light instrument on the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT).
Scheduled for commissioning in late 2004, PFIS is a versatile
high-throughput imaging spectrograph with a complement of 5 volume-phase
holographic gratings for spectroscopic programs from 3200Å to
9000Å at resolutions of R=1500 to R=6000. A magazine of 6
longslits and 30 custom laser-milled slitmasks enables single- or
multi-object spectroscopy over an 8 arcminute diameter field. With the
gratings stowed, a dual-etalon Fabry-Perot subsystem enables imaging
spectroscopy at R=500, R=3000, and R=12,500. The polarization subsystem,
consisting of a polarizing beam-splitter used in conjunction with half-
and quarter-wave plates, allow linear or circular polarimetric
measurements in ANY of the spectroscopic modes. Three mosaiced
rapid-readout frame-transfer CCDs provide the capability for
time-resolved sampling at rates in excess of 10 Hz. Combinations of
these subsystems permit novel observing modes for specialized scientific
programs. Examples include high-time resolution multi-object spectral
polarizmetry of accreting compact objects, and Fabry-Perot polarimetry
or imaging spectral polarimetry of nebulae and stellar clusters. The
demands of queue-scheduled observing on a fixed-altitude telescope
require that the instrument be capable of rapid reconfiguration between
modes. |