Project Title:

Infrared Spectroscopy with Detector Arrays

08.12-5262
901460
Infrared Spectroscopy with Detector Arrays

Abstract:

This proposal responds to Technical Subtopic 08.12:  Infrared Spectroscopy with Detector
Arrays, which requests an instrument be developed that allows high wavelength resolution,
variable spatial (angular) resolution yet maintains high spectrophotometric sensitivity.
This instrument is to operate in the wavelength region 1 = 1-5um, have variable resolving
powers,  /  (write in symbols), between 500 and 4000, an angular resolution of 0.5
to 3.0 arcseconds, be designed for a f/5.5, 6.5 meter astronomical telescope and
be computer controlled. Objective of Phase I is to develop a detailed conceptual
design and show feasibility of developing and testing of a prototype instrument under
Phase II. The majority of the Phase I effort will be spent in the following areas:
 generating applicable scientific and technical specifications; developing reasonable
concept definitions; and producing the concept documentation that will demonstrate
the feasibility of the design. Members of the SETS Technology, Inc., instrument team
have developed or helped develop more than a dozen infrared astronomical instruments
including 5 spectrometers (0.4 and 5.2um), a state-of-the-art HgCdTe array imaging
spectrometer (1- 2.5um) and InSb and PtSi infrared imaging cameras.
These include the instrument design, related developments in infrared optics, cryostat
design, and computer control systems. The variable spatial resolution concept may
yield new applications in astrophysics, planetary science, terrestrial land, ocean
and atmosphere remote-sensing, surveillance, general chemical and mineralogical analysis.
spectrometer, infrared, astronomical, instrumentation, array detectors