MOSAIC: a multi-object spectrograph with adaptive image correction

Ray M. Sharples; Richard M. Myers; Nicholas A. Walton

doi:10.1117/12.395477

16 August 2000 MOSAIC: a multi-object spectrograph with adaptive image correction

Ray M. Sharples, Richard M. Myers, Nicholas A. Walton

Proceedings Volume 4008, Optical and IR Telescope Instrumentation and Detectors; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.395477
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2000, Munich, Germany

Abstract

We have proposed a new Nasmyth instrument for the William Herschel Telescope which exploits the potential of wide field-of-view correction of atmospheric turbulence to produce a versatile, high spatial resolution, high efficiency, multi-object spectrograph and imager optimized for the 0.7-1.6 micron region. Using a low-altitude Rayleigh beacon guide star to correct the boundary layer turbulence which dominates the atmospheric seeing at La Palma on more than 25 percent of nights, MOSAIC combines the angular resolution gains of adaptive optics with the observing efficiency gains of multiple-object spectroscopy. Additional operating modes could include a narrow-band tunable filter and a fiber feed to a bench-mou8nted high resolution echelle spectrography. The instruments would provide a unique capability on 4-meter telescopes, opening up a wide variety of new scientific capabilities ranging from spectroscopic studies of crowded star fields to resolved studies of the kinematics of distant galaxies.

Citation Download Citation

Ray M. Sharples, Richard M. Myers, and Nicholas A. Walton "MOSAIC: a multi-object spectrograph with adaptive image correction", Proc. SPIE 4008, Optical and IR Telescope Instrumentation and Detectors, (16 August 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.395477

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