Proceedings Paper
The science drivers for a mid-infrared instrument for the TMT| Format | Member Price | Non-Member Price |
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Paper Abstract
A mid-infrared (MIR) imager and spectrometer is being investigated for possible consideration for construction
in the early operation of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). Combined with adaptive optics for the MIR, the
instrument will afford 15 times higher sensitivity (0.1mJy as 5 sigma detection in 1hour integration in the N-band
imaging) and 4 times better spatial resolution (0.08") at 10μm compared to 8m-class telescopes. In addition, its
large light-gathering power allows high-dispersion spectroscopy in the MIR that will be unrivaled by any other
facility. We, a collaborating team of Japanese and US MIR astronomers, have carefully considered the science
drivers for the TMT MIR instrument. Such an instrument would offer both broad and potentially transformative
science. Furthering the science cases for the MIRES1, where high-dispersion spectroscopy was emphasized, we
discuss additional capabilities for the instrument drawn from the enlarged science cases. The science cases include
broader areas of astronomical fields: star and planet formation, solar system bodies, evolved stars, interstellar
medium (ISM), extragalaxies, and cosmology. Based on these science drivers, essential instrument capabilities
and key enhancement are discussed (see the companion paper Tokunaga et al. 20102): specifically imaging, lowand
high-spectral resolution modes, integral field spectroscopy, and polarimetry.
Paper Details
Date Published: 20 July 2010
PDF: 13 pages
Proc. SPIE 7735, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III, 77355O (20 July 2010); doi: 10.1117/12.856670
Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7735:
Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III
Ian S. McLean; Suzanne K. Ramsay; Hideki Takami, Editor(s)
PDF: 13 pages
Proc. SPIE 7735, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III, 77355O (20 July 2010); doi: 10.1117/12.856670
Show Author Affiliations
Y. K. Okamoto, Ibaraki Univ. (Japan)
C. Packham, Univ. of Florida (United States)
A. Tokunaga, Univ. of Hawai'i (United States)
M. Honda, Kanagawa Univ. (Japan)
I. Sakon, The Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)
J. Carr, U.S. Naval Research Lab. (United States)
M. Chiba, Tohoku Univ. (Japan)
M. Chun, Univ. of Hawai'i (United States)
H. Fujiwara, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan)
T. Fujiyoshi, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Subaru Telescope (United States)
M. Imanishi, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (Japan)
Y. Ita, Astronomical Institute, Tohoku Univ. (Japan)
C. Packham, Univ. of Florida (United States)
A. Tokunaga, Univ. of Hawai'i (United States)
M. Honda, Kanagawa Univ. (Japan)
I. Sakon, The Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)
J. Carr, U.S. Naval Research Lab. (United States)
M. Chiba, Tohoku Univ. (Japan)
M. Chun, Univ. of Hawai'i (United States)
H. Fujiwara, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan)
T. Fujiyoshi, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Subaru Telescope (United States)
M. Imanishi, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (Japan)
Y. Ita, Astronomical Institute, Tohoku Univ. (Japan)
H. Kataza, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan)
N. Levenson, Gemini Observatory (Chile)
M. Matsuura, Univ. College London (United Kingdom)
T. Minezaki, The Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)
J. Najita, National Optical Astronomy Observatory (United States)
T. Onaka, The Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)
T. Ootsubo, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan)
M. Richter, Univ. of California, Davis (United States)
M. Takami, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (Taiwan)
C. M. Telesco, Univ. of Florida (United States)
C. M. Wright, Univ. of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy (Australia)
T. Yamashita, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (Japan)
N. Levenson, Gemini Observatory (Chile)
M. Matsuura, Univ. College London (United Kingdom)
T. Minezaki, The Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)
J. Najita, National Optical Astronomy Observatory (United States)
T. Onaka, The Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)
T. Ootsubo, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan)
M. Richter, Univ. of California, Davis (United States)
M. Takami, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (Taiwan)
C. M. Telesco, Univ. of Florida (United States)
C. M. Wright, Univ. of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy (Australia)
T. Yamashita, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (Japan)
Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7735:
Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III
Ian S. McLean; Suzanne K. Ramsay; Hideki Takami, Editor(s)
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