The 4.1-m SOAR telescope can play a unique role for LSST follow-up studies through an efficient use of its laser-guided Adaptive Optics Module (SAM) that routinely delivers images with FWHM <0.5” over a uniquely large 3’x3’ field of view. To exploit this platform we have conceived SAMOS, a MEMS-based slit spectrograph capable of acquiring in a few seconds single or multiple targets with extreme precision. SAMOS can capture R ~ 2,000 – 2, 500 spectra with a nominal 0:33" slit width in the 3,500-9,500 Å spectral range reaching in 3600 s median SNR=5 at AB=22.9 with the red grating and 23.5 with the blue grating, comparable to 8-m class telescopes working in seeing limited conditions. In this contribution we present the SAMOS opto-mechanical design, concept of operation and provide a few examples of compelling science programs that can uniquely benefit from SAMOS sensitivity, angular resolution, versatility and simplicity of use.

Date Published: 9 August 2016
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 9908, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI, 99088V (9 August 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2233094

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9908:
Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI
Christopher J. Evans; Luc Simard; Hideki Takami, Editor(s)