FIFI-LS: the facility far-infrared spectrometer for SOFIA

Randolf Klein; Simon Beckmann; Aaron Bryant; Sebastian Colditz; Christian Fischer; Fabio Fumi; Norbert Geis; Rainer Hönle; Alfred Krabbe; Leslie Looney; Albrecht Poglitsch; Walfried Raab; Felix Rebell; Maureen Savage

doi:10.1117/12.2055371

8 July 2014 FIFI-LS: the facility far-infrared spectrometer for SOFIA

Randolf Klein, Simon Beckmann, Aaron Bryant, Sebastian Colditz, Christian Fischer, Fabio Fumi, Norbert Geis, Rainer Hönle, Alfred Krabbe, Leslie Looney, Albrecht Poglitsch, Walfried Raab, Felix Rebell, Maureen Savage

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9147, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V; 91472X (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055371
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2014, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Abstract

FIFI-LS is the German far-infrared integral field spectrometer for the SOFIA airborne observatory. The instrument offers medium resolution spectroscopy (R ~ a few 1000) in the far-infrared with two independent spectrometers covering 50-110 and 100-200 μm. The integral field units of the two spectrometers obtain spectra covering concentric square fields-of-views sized 3000and 6000, respectively. Both spectrometers can observe simultaneously at any wavelength in their ranges making efficient mapping of far-infrared lines possible. FIFI-LS has been commissioned at the airborne observatory SOFIA as a PI instrument in spring 2014. During 2015, the commissioning as facility instrument will be complete and the SOFIA observatory will take over the operation of FIFI-LS. The instrument can already be used by the community. Primary science cases are the study of the galactic and extra-galactic interstellar medium and its processes. In this presentation, the capabilities of FIFI-LS on the SOFIA telescope will be explained and how they are used by the offered observing modes. The remaining atmosphere and the warm telescope create a high background situation, which requires a differential measurement technique. This is achieved by SOFIA’s chopping secondary mirror and nodding the telescope. Depending on the source size, different observing modes may be used to observe a source. All modes use spatial and spectral dithering. The resulting data products will be 3D-data cubes. The observing parameters will be specified using AOTs, like the other SOFIA instruments, and created via the tool SSPOT which is similar to the Spitzer Space Telescope SPOT tool. The observations will be done in service mode, but SOFIA invites a few investigators to fly onboard SOFIA during (part of) their observations.

Citation Download Citation

Randolf Klein, Simon Beckmann, Aaron Bryant, Sebastian Colditz, Christian Fischer, Fabio Fumi, Norbert Geis, Rainer Hönle, Alfred Krabbe, Leslie Looney, Albrecht Poglitsch, Walfried Raab, Felix Rebell, and Maureen Savage "FIFI-LS: the facility far-infrared spectrometer for SOFIA", Proc. SPIE 9147, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V, 91472X (8 July 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055371

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available