METIS - the Mid-infrared E-ELT Imager and Spectrograph
Jul 9, 200815 pages
Published in:
- Proc.SPIE Int.Soc.Opt.Eng. 7014 (2008) 70141N
Contribution to:
- Published: Jul 9, 2008
e-Print:
- 0807.3271 [astro-ph]
DOI:
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Abstract: (International Society for Optics and Photonics)
METIS, the Mid-infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph (formerly called MIDIR), is a proposed instrument for theEuropean Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), currently undergoing a phase-A study. The study is carried out withinthe framework of the ESO-sponsored E-ELT instrumentation studies. METIS will be designed to cover the E-ELTscience needs at wavelengths longward of 3μm, where the thermal background requires different operating schemes. Inthis paper we discuss the main science drivers from which the instrument baseline has been derived. Specific emphasishas been given to observations that require very high spatial and spectral resolution, which can only be achieved with aground-based ELT. We also discuss the challenging aspects of background suppression techniques, adaptive optics inthe mid-IR, and telescope site considerations. The METIS instrument baseline includes imaging and spectroscopy at theatmospheric L, M, and N bands with a possible extension to Q band imaging. Both coronagraphy and polarimetry arealso being considered. However, we note that the concept is still not yet fully consolidated. The METIS studies arebeing performed by an international consortium with institutes from the Netherlands, Germany, France, UnitedKingdom, and Belgium.- Adaptive optics
- Calibration
- Coronagraphy
- Diffraction
- Equipment and services
- Exoplanets
- Field spectroscopy
- Galactic astronomy
- Imaging systems
- Instrument modeling
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