Martyn Wells

Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV

MOONS is a new conceptual design for a Multi-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph for the Very Large Telescope (VLT), selected by ESO for a Phase A study. The baseline design consists of ~1000 fibers deployable over a field of view of ~500 square arcmin, the largest patrol field offered by the Nasmyth focus at the VLT. The total wavelength coverage is 0.8μm-1.8μm and two resolution modes: medium resolution and high resolution. In the medium resolution mode (R~4,000-6,000) the entire wavelength range 0.8μm-1.8μm is observed simultaneously, while the high resolution mode covers simultaneously three selected spectral regions: one around the CaII triplet (at R~8,000) to measure radial velocities, and two regions at R~20,000 one in the J-band and one in the H-band, for detailed measurements of chemical abundances. The grasp of the 8.2m Very Large Telescope (VLT) combined with the large multiplex and wavelength coverage of MOONS – extending into the near-IR – will provide the observational power necessary to study galaxy formation and evolution over the entire history of the Universe, from our Milky Way, through the redshift desert and up to the epoch of re-ionization at z<8-9. At the same time, the high spectral resolution mode will allow astronomers to study chemical abundances of stars in our Galaxy, in particular in the highly obscured regions of the Bulge, and provide the necessary follow-up of the Gaia mission. Such characteristics and versatility make MOONS the long-awaited workhorse near-IR MOS for the VLT, which will perfectly complement optical spectroscopy performed by FLAMES and VIMOS.

Dust Temperatures in the Infrared Space Observatory Atlas of Bright Spiral Galaxies

We examine far-infrared and submillimeter spectral energy distributions for galaxies in the Infrared Space Observatory Atlas of Bright Spiral Galaxies. For the 71 galaxies where we had complete 60–180 lm data, we fitted blackbodies with � � 1 emissivities and average temperatures of 31 K or � � 2 emissivities and average temperatures of 22 K. Except for high temperatures determined in some early-type galaxies, the temperatures show no dependence on any galaxy characteristic. For the 60–850 lm range in eight galaxies, we fitted black

Do galaxy mergers form elliptical galaxies? A comparison of kinematic and photometric properties

We present near-IR K-band imaging and spectroscopy of a sample of galaxy mergers, which we use to derive light profile indices, absolute magnitudes and central velocity dispersions. It is found that the light distributions of mergers more nearly resemble those of ellipticals than of bulges, but that the mergers lie well away from the Fundamental Plane defined by the ellipticals. This is interpreted as being due to enhancement of the K-band surface brightness of the mergers by a significant population of supergiant stars, and independent evidence for such a population is inferred from measurements of the depth of the 2.3 µm CO absorption feature.

An Infrared Space Observatory Atlas of Bright Spiral Galaxies

In this first paper in a series we present an atlas of infrared images and photometry from 1.2 to 180 μm for a sample of bright spiral galaxies. The atlas galaxies are an optically selected, magnitude-limited sample of 77 spiral and S0 galaxies chosen from the Revised Shapley-Ames Catalog (RSA). The sample is a representative sample of spiral galaxies and includes Seyfert galaxies, LINERs, interacting galaxies, and peculiar galaxies. Using the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), we have obtained 12 μm images and photometry at 60, 100, and 180 μm for the galaxies. In addition to its imaging capabilities, ISO provides substantially better angular resolution than is available in the IRAS survey, and this permits discrimination between infrared activity in the central regions and global infrared emission in the disks of these galaxies. These ISO data have been supplemented with JHK imaging using ground-based telescopes. The atlas includes 2 and 12 μm images. Following an analysis of the properties of the galaxies, we have compared the mid-infrared and far-infrared ISO photometry with IRAS photometry. The systematic differences we find between the IRAS Faint Source Catalog and ISO measurements are directly related to the spatial extent of the ISO fluxes, and we discuss the reliability of IRAS Faint Source Catalog total flux densities and flux ratios for nearby galaxies. In our analysis of the 12 μm morphological features we find that most but not all galaxies have bright nuclear emission. We find 12 μm structures such as rings, spiral arm fragments, knotted spiral arms, and bright sources in the disks that are sometimes brighter than the nuclei at mid-infrared wavelengths. These features, which are presumably associated with extranuclear star formation, are common in the disks of Sb and later galaxies but are relatively unimportant in S0–Sab galaxies.

The Mid-Infrared Instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope, II: Design and Build

The Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) provides measurements over the wavelength range 5 to 28.5 μm. MIRI has, within a single ‘package’, four key scientific functions: photometric imaging, coronagraphy, single-source low-spectral resolving power (R ∼ 100) spectroscopy, and medium-resolving power (R ∼ 1500 to 3500) integral field spectroscopy. An associated cooler system maintains MIRI at its operating temperature of <6.7 K. This paper describes the driving principles behind the design of MIRI, the primary design parameters, and their realisation in terms of the ‘as-built’ instrument. It also describes the test programme that led to delivery of the tested and calibrated Flight Model to NASA in 2012, and the confirmation after delivery of the key interface requirements.

NAOMI adaptive optics system for the 4.2-m William Herschel telescope

NAOMI (Nasmyth Adaptive Optics for Multi-purpose Instrumentation) is a recently completed and commissioned astronomical facility on the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope. The system is designed to work initially with Natural Guide Stars and also to be upgradeable for use with a single laser guide star. It has been designed to work with both near infrared and optical instrumentation (both imagers and spectrographs). The system uses a linearised segmented adaptive mirror and dual-CCD Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor together with a multiple-DSP real-time processing system. Control system parameters can be updated on-the-fly by monitoring processes and the system can self-optimize its base optical figure to compensate for the optical characteristics of attached scientific instrumentation. The scientific motivation, consequent specification and implementation of NAOMI are described, together with example performance data and information on future upgrades and instrumentation.

Sensitivity estimates for the mid-infrared instrument (MIRI) on the JWST

Modelling the scientific performance of infrared instruments during the design and definition phase of a project is an essential part of the system design optimisation for both the instrument and the observatory. This is particularly so in the case of space observatories where the opportunities for correcting design errors or omissions following launch are limited. We describe the approach taken to the estimation of the sensitivity of the Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI) operating from 5 to 28 microns on the NASA/ESA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) due for launch in 2011. We show how the sensitivity is estimated both for the photometric imager and the integral field spectrometer using a model that includes the effects of background radiation from the telescope and its surroundings; diffraction effects and detector performance and operations.

Cryogenic image slicing IFU for UKIRT: manufacture, alignment, laboratory testing, and data reduction

We present here details of the manufacture of a deployable image slicing IFU for UIST (a new imager spectrometer for UKIRT). We also present the alignment methods developed and used to achieve optimal transmission and give results for laboratory testing of the IFU at cryogenic temperatures in its operational configuration in UIST. These tests covered transmission, scattered light, alignment of exit pupils and the spatial and spectral PSFs. The calibration and automatic data reduction methods which produce spectra (in the form of an x, y, λ data-cube) aligned in wavelength and the two spatial dimensions for all the observed pixels will be described.

GIRMOS: an infrared multi-object spectrograph for Gemini

Gemini have funded a design study to investigate the technologies needed in a versatile multi-object spectrograph for IR astronomy. We report on our investigations into wide- field spectroscopy using multiple integral-field units (MIFUs) to match particular areas of interest to the available detector(s). Such technologies enable integral field spectroscopy of several targets over a much wider field than can be covered with a single IFU. A brief overview of the scientific rationale for a multipel0IFU capability matched to multi-conjugate adaptive optics, and with its wider uncorrected field, on Gemini is given. A proposed method of deploying MIFUs is then described along with the optical consequences of the method.

The throughput and sensitivity of the JWST mid-infrared instrument

The Verification Model (VM) of MIRI has recently completed an extensive programme of cryogenic testing, with the Flight Model (FM) now being assembled and made ready to begin performance testing in the next few months. By combining those VM test results which relate to MIRIs scientific performance with measurements made on FM components and sub-assemblies, we have been able to refine and develop the existing model of the instruments throughput and sensitivity. We present the main components of the model, its correlation with the existing test results and its predictions for MIRIs performance on orbit.