Collaborative Research: A New Optical Instrument to Provide Follow-Up Observations for Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Observations

合作研究：为大型综合巡天望远镜观测提供后续观测的新型光学仪器

• 批准号: 1611276
• 负责人: Massimo Robberto
• 金额: $ 150.51万
• 依托单位: Johns Hopkins University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-09-01 至 2024-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1611276&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; New; Optical; Instrument

1. Astronomers are currently building the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) in northern Chile. It will provide a flood of astronomical data when it goes into operation in 2019. This will greatly increase demand for spectroscopic studies of many interesting targets. Spacecraft observations will contribute tremendous numbers of additional targets. To meet these demands, the Investigators will construct a novel spectrograph for the SOAR telescope in the southern hemisphere. This instrument will use many tiny mirrors to steer light from small patches of the sky into either the spectrograph or an imaging channel. The Intellectual Merit of the project comes from its ability to provide rapid follow-up observations of LSST discoveries. It will also enable studies in very crowded regions of the sky, such as the central bulge of our own Milky Way Galaxy. This project serves the national interest by advancing the quality and type of science we can acquire about the Milky Way galaxy and other discoveries made with the LSST. The Broader Impacts of the project include the involvement of graduate students in all phases of the project. This will contribute strongly to STEM education in the important area of instrument development. The Investigators will also explain their research results to the public through press releases and the internet.2. When the LSST comes into operation in 2019, there will be enormous pressure on 4-meter-class telescopes to carry out immediate follow-up observations as well as long-term monitoring of LSST discoveries. In addition, there will be a need for spectroscopic observations in crowded fields such as globular clusters, the Galactic Bulge, and the Magellanic Clouds. To help meet these demands, the Investigators will construct a novel spectrograph for the SOAR 4.1-meter telescope in the southern hemisphere. The SOAR Adaptive Module Optical Spectrograph (SAMOS) will employ a digital micromirror device as a slit-selection mechanism. Each randomly addressable mirror can be tilted to redirect light either to the primary spectrograph channel or to a parallel imaging channel. The Intellectual Merit of the project is that, as an adaptive-optics instrument, SAMOS will be able to respond to demand for observations in very rich fields - such as are needed, for example, for HST or JWST follow-up investigations - as well as for studying LSST targtes. A Broader Impact highlighted by the proposers is that opportunities for remote observations with SAMOS will make the instrument available to faculty, staff, and students at institutions with limited budgets. In addition, graduate students at all three participating institutions will be involved in all phases of the project, and research results will be made available to the general public through press releases and the internet.

1.天文学家目前正在智利北方建造大型综合巡天望远镜（LSST）。 它将在2019年投入运行时提供大量天文数据。 这将大大增加对许多感兴趣的目标的光谱研究的需求。 航天器观测将提供大量的额外目标。 为了满足这些需求，研究人员将为南半球的SOAR望远镜建造一个新的光谱仪。 该仪器将使用许多微小的镜子将光线从天空的小块区域引导到光谱仪或成像通道。 该项目的智力价值来自于其对LSST发现进行快速跟踪观测的能力。 它还将使研究在天空中非常拥挤的区域，如我们银河系的中央隆起。 该项目通过提高我们可以获得的关于银河系和LSST的其他发现的科学质量和类型来服务于国家利益。该项目的更广泛的影响包括研究生参与项目的所有阶段。 这将大大有助于仪器开发这一重要领域的STEM教育。 研究人员还将通过新闻稿和互联网向公众解释他们的研究结果。当LSST在2019年投入运行时，4米级望远镜将面临巨大的压力，需要对LSST的发现进行即时跟踪观测和长期监测。 此外，在拥挤的领域，如球状星团，银河系隆起和麦哲伦云，将需要光谱观测。 为了帮助满足这些需求，研究人员将为南半球的SOAR 4.1米望远镜建造一个新的光谱仪。 SOAR自适应模块光学摄谱仪（SAMOS）将采用一个数字式双折射装置作为狭缝选择机构。 每个可随机寻址的反射镜可以倾斜以将光重定向到主摄谱仪通道或平行成像通道。 该项目的智力优势在于，作为一种自适应光学仪器，SAMOS将能够满足非常丰富领域的观测需求-例如，HST或JWST后续调查以及研究LSST目标。 提议者强调的一个更广泛的影响是，利用SAMOS进行远程观测的机会将使预算有限的机构的教职员工和学生能够使用该仪器。 此外，所有三个参与机构的研究生将参与项目的所有阶段，研究成果将通过新闻稿和互联网向公众公布。