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François Hénault, Roland Bacon, Hans Dekker, Bernard Delabre, Slimane Djidel, Jean-Pierre Dubois, Norbert Hubin, Blandine Lantz, Wing Lau, Miska Le Louarn, Ian Lewis, Jean-Louis Lizon, James Lynn, Luca Pasquini, Roland Reiss, Martin M. Roth
SPIE 5492 - 2004
Abstract
The MUSE (Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer) instrument is a second-generation integral-field spectrograph candidate for the VLT, operating in the visible and near IR wavelength range (0.465-0.93 µm). It is combining a large 1’ x 1’ Field of View with a spectral resolution of 3000 and a spatial resolution of 0.2” coupled to a sophisticated ground-layer Adaptive Optics (AO) system. After a brief summary of the major instrumental requirements, we will focus on the opto-mechanical design of MUSE, including core subsystems such as the Fore-Optics, the Image Slicers and the Spectrographs, the Structure and the Calibration Unit. The most creative trends of the instrument will be underlined, such as the specific choices adopted to reduce the costs, weight and volume of the Slicer and Spectrograph units, that need to be manufactured and installed on the VLT Nasmyth platform into twenty-four replicas. Finally, a realistic estimate of the expected performance (in both throughput and image quality), and the future development program for the forthcoming detailed design phase will be presented. Keywords: Integral Field Spectroscopy, Field-splitter, Image Slicer, Spectrograph, VLT instrumentation.
In the same section :
- MUSE Alignment onto VLT
- IFU Simulator : A Powerful Alignment and Performance Tool for MUSE instrument
- MUSE Field Splitter Unit : Fan-shaped Separator for 24 Integral Field Units
- Telescopes and Instrumentation, News of the MUSE
- MUSE Integral Field Unit: Test results on the first out of 24
- MUSE Image Slicer: Test results on largest slicer ever manufactured
