A Medium Resolution Spectrograph for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility

本项目将在美国宇航局位于莫纳克亚山的3米红外望远镜设施（IRTF）上建造一个0.9-5.5 um介质交叉分散光谱仪作为设施仪器。与IRTF的快速倾斜辅助装置相结合，光谱仪将通过0.3“x5”狭缝，在1-2.5微米范围内容纳0.25-0.30“的图像，并通过衍射限制的光谱分辨率为R=1200。该仪器将使用512x512 Insb焦平面阵列。与现有光谱仪相比，该仪器的主要创新是能够以高灵敏度和非常高的角度分辨率观测整个近红外范围，使其成为许多关键天文项目的理想仪器。其中包括对太阳系小天体的光谱调查，以加强对太阳系形成方式的研究；对最近分子云中年轻恒星物体的光谱调查，以探测可能形成行星的地点；对恒星形成区域的光谱调查，以对年轻嵌入恒星进行光谱分类，以提供对恒星形成的新见解；并在强大的红外星系中区分恒星爆发和怪物。＊＊＊

ABSTRACT Rayner, J.T. 9319039 This project will construct a 0.9-5.5 um medium cross- dispersed spectrograph for use as a facility instrument at the 3-meter NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea. In conjunction with a fast tip-tilt secondary at the IRTF, the spectrograph will accommodate 0.25-0.30" images at 1-2.5 um and diffraction-limited a spectral resolution of R=1200, through a 0.3"x5" slit. The instrument will use a 512x512 Insb focal plane array. The major innovation in this instrument over existing spectrographs is the capability of observing over the entire near infrared range at high sensitivity and at very high angular resolution, making it an ideal instrument for a number of key astronomical projects. These include spectroscopic surveys of small bodies in the solar system to enhance studies of how our solar system formed, spectroscopic surveys of young stellar objects in the most nearby molecular clouds to probe sites of possible planet formation, spectroscopic surveys of star forming regions to spectrally type young embedded stars to provide new insights into star formation, investigation of galaxy formation and early evolution, and distinguishing starbursts and monsters in powerful infrared galaxies. ***