MRI: Development of the Keck Cosmic Web Imager Reionization Mapper

虽然天文图像可以提供令人惊叹的宇宙外观记录，但通过根据颜色划分光束(一种称为光谱学的技术)可以获得更多的信息。这种方法可以得到有关源的物理属性的重要细节：它的温度、化学成分、密度、质量和速度等。因此，构建非常高效、光谱覆盖范围广、高分辨率的测绘光谱仪是最大限度地利用我们的非常大的地面望远镜的有效方法。H.Lewis博士(加州天文学研究协会、加州理工学院和加州大学)建议为位于夏威夷莫纳克亚的10米Keck II望远镜完成Keck宇宙网络成像仪光谱仪的开发，并为光谱的红色部分优化新的光学系统。最终的仪器将提供一个非凡的平台，用于对大爆炸后最初数亿年的星系形成和演化进行敏感评估，研究外部星系的星际介质，探测我们银河系中的星团和星云，并跟踪这些星团内恒星的形成过程。凯克宇宙网成像仪(KCWI)旨在提供可见光受限波段、具有中到高光谱分辨率(高达R=20,000)的积分场光谱、可选择的切片器和视场、高效率和出色的天空减影。KCWI将受益于Keck II望远镜的大口径、10米口径和出色的场地，提供双通道、模块化实施。KCWI的蓝色通道接近完成；通过这项提议获得资金的红色通道将把光谱覆盖范围从3500埃扩展到10500埃，并使科学家能够解决与外部星系的形成和演化过程有关的几个关键问题，从而解决宇宙中物质的发展。凯克宇宙网成像仪的红色通道的开发资金由美国国家科学基金会天文科学部通过参与重大研究仪器计划提供。

While astronomical images can offer breathtaking records of the appearance of the Universe, far greater information is obtained by dividing a light beam according to color (a technique known as spectroscopy). This approach can yield important details about the physical properties of the source: its temperature, chemical composition, density, mass, and velocity, among others. Constructing very efficient, wide spectral coverage, high-resolution mapping spectrographs is therefore an effective approach to getting the most from our very largest ground-based telescopes. Dr. H. Lewis (California Association for Research in Astronomy together with the California Institute of Technology and the University of California) proposes to complete the development of the Keck Cosmic Web Imager spectrograph for the 10-m Keck II telescope atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii with new optics optimized for the red portion of the spectrum. The final instrument will provide an extraordinary platform for carrying out sensitive assessments of galaxy formation and evolution in the first few hundred million years after the Big Bang, to study the interstellar medium in external galaxies, to probe star clusters and nebulae in our own Milky Way galaxy, and to track the process of star formation within those clusters.The Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI) is designed to provide seeing-limited visible band, integral field spectroscopy with moderate to high spectral resolution (up to R = 20,000), selectable slicer scales and fields of view, high efficiency, and excellent sky subtraction. KCWI will benefit from the Keck II telescope's large, 10-m aperture and excellent site, providing a dual-channel, modular implementation. The blue channel of KCWI is nearly complete; the red channel to be funded through this proposal will extend the spectral coverage to the entire optical window from 3500 to 10500 angstroms and enable scientists to address several of the key questions relating to the process of the formation and evolution of external galaxies, and thereby of the development of matter in the universe.Funding for the development of the red channel of the Keck Cosmic Web Imager is being provided by NSF's Division of Astronomical Sciences through its participation in the Major Research Instrumentation program.