Development and Construction of a Fiber-Fed, High-ThroughputEschelle Spectrograph for the Michigan-Dartmouth-MIT Observatory

Ast-9413847 Mateo，Mario PIS将为密歇根-达特茅斯-麻省理工学院天文台的希特纳2.4米望远镜建造一台高效率、多目标光纤馈电的梯形光谱仪。该设计将优化分辨率、紧凑性，并允许梯形光栅/交叉分散器组合的轻松更改，并从直接模式(单一对象)转变为光纤模式(多对象)。该仪器的能力和多功能性将显著增强密歇根-达特茅斯-麻省理工学院(MDM)天文台的研究能力，并使2.4望远镜在某些观测问题上与更大的望远镜竞争。MDM天文学家的庞大群体将对一些具有基本天文学重要性的领域进行详细研究。这些项目包括；A)研究本星系群及其以外矮小星系的暗物质含量，b)详细测量盘状和晕星中主要元素的时间演化，c)直接测量银河系光晕和外部螺旋中气体的运动学，d)观测银河系和外部系统中超新星和新星壳的详细运动学性质，e)对星系团运动学进行明确研究，包括首次直接尝试测量星系团中的均分程度，f)系统地监测疏散星系团和球状星系团中的恒星，以寻找光谱双星，G)通过沿太阳圈对造父变星的精确运动学观测来测量到银河系中心的距离，以及h)探测我们银河系中弥漫的星际介质的物理条件和化学成分。各种各样的主题强调了将使用新光谱仪的科学界和仪器本身的多功能性。***

ABSTRACT AST-9413847 Mateo, Mario The PIs will build a high-efficiency, multi-object fiber-fed echelle spectrograph for the Hiltner 2.4m telescope at Michigan-Dartmouth-MIT observatory. The design will optimize resolution, compactness, and allow for easy changes of echelle grating/cross disperser combinations, and form direct mode (single objects) to fiber mode (multiple objects ). The capabilities and versatility of this instrument will significantly enhance the research capabilities of the Michigan-Dartmouth-MIT (MDM) Observatory and make the 2.4 telescope competitive with far larger telescopes for certain observational problems. Detailed studies in a number of areas of fundamental astronomical importance will be undertaken by the large community of MDM astronomers. These projects include; a) studies of the dark matter content of dwarf galaxies in the Local Group and beyond, b) detailed measurements of the temporal evolution of key elements in disk and halo stars, c) direct measurements of the kinematics of gas in the halos of our Galaxy and external spirals, d) observations of the detailed kinematical properties of supernova and nova shells in our Galaxy and in external systems, e) definitive studies of the kinematics of star clusters including the first direct attempts to measure the degree of equipartition in clusters, f) systematically monitoring stars in open and globular clusters to search for spectroscopic binaries, g) measurements of the distance to the Galactic Center via precise kinematics observations of Cepheids along the solar circle, and h) probing the physical conditions and chemical composition of the diffuse interstellar medium in our Galaxy. The variety of topics underscores the scientific community that will use the new spectrograph and the versatility of the instrument itself. ***