MRI: Development of Multi-mode Integral Field Units for Magellan (IFU-M)

天文学家研究宇宙的主要方法之一是将来自天体的望远镜光线分解成其组成颜色。这种被称为光谱学的技术通常可以揭示支配恒星、星系等的潜在过程。传统的天文摄谱仪以成像为代价获取颜色信息。然而，一个现代的积分场单元（IFU）光谱仪能够做到这两点。IFU在天文光源图像的每个像素处获取图像和光谱。由此产生的数据立方体可以用来确定光在单个扩展物体上的空间分布，也可以用来同时研究多个恒星或星系。该项目将支持为位于拉斯坎帕纳斯天文台的麦哲伦/克莱望远镜开发IFU系统。一旦完成，这台仪器将能够进行广泛的研究，从年轻恒星的形成到遥远星系中气体流出的动力学。除了提供新的研究工具外，该项目还将为学生和早期职业科学家提供重要的培训机会。来自望远镜的实时信息将与本科课程一起使用。该项目建立在之前的核磁共振奖0923160 （PI: Mateo）的基础上，该奖资助了密歇根/麦哲伦光纤系统（M2FS）光谱仪的开发。M2FS系统实际上由两个高性能光学光谱仪组成，在370-950 nm波长范围内提供1000到40000的分辨率R。自2013年投入使用以来，M2FS已用于支持18位不同研究人员提出的30多个不同的科学项目。该项目将为麦哲伦开发多模式集成现场单元（IFU-M），与M2FS一起使用。使该仪器成为可能的一个关键设计创新是光纤接头的使用，它可以一次处理O（10）根光纤，从而更快地制造和组装。制造和组装将在PI？他在密歇根大学的实验室；完成后的仪器将部署在拉斯坎帕纳斯天文台麦哲伦/克莱望远镜的内myth焦点上，在那里它将进行调试并作为设施仪器使用。

One of the main ways that astronomers study the universe is by splitting the telescope light from celestial sources into its component colors. This technique, known as spectroscopy, can often reveal the underlying processes that govern stars, galaxies and the like. A traditional astronomical spectrograph obtains color information at the expense of imaging. However, a modern Integral Field Unit (IFU) spectrograph is able to do both. An IFU obtains an image and a spectrum at each pixel of the image of an astronomical source. The resulting data cube can be studied to determine the spatial distribution of light across a single extended object, or it can be used to study multiple stars or galaxies at once. This project will support the development of an IFU system for the Magellan/Clay telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory. When completed, this instrument will enable a wide range of investigations into topics from the formation of young stars to the dynamics of gas outflows in distant galaxies. In addition to providing a new tool for research, this project will also serve as an essential training opportunity for students and early career scientists. Live feeds from the telescope will be used in conjunction with undergraduate classes. This project builds upon the previous MRI award, 0923160 (PI: Mateo), which funded the development of the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) spectrograph. The M2FS system actually consists of two high-performance optical spectrographs that deliver resolution, R, in the range 1000 to 40,000 over a wavelength range 370-950 nm. Since commissioning in 2013, M2FS has been used to support over 30 distinct science projects proposed by 18 different investigators. This project will develop multi-mode Integral Field Units for Magellan (IFU-M), to be used in conjunction with M2FS. One key design innovation that enables this instrument is the use of fiber gangs, which handle O(10) optical fibers at once for faster fabrication and assembly. Fabrication and assembly will take place at the PI?s lab at the University of Michigan; the completed instrument will be deployed at the Nasmyth focus of the Magellan/Clay telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, where it will undergo commissioning and use as a facility instrument.