The mid-infrared instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope: performance and operation of the Low-Resolution Spectrometer

Sarah Kendrew; Silvia Scheithauer; Patrice Bouchet; Jerome Amiaux; Ruymán Azzollini; Jeroen Bouwman; Christine Chen; Didier Dubreuil; Sebastian Fischer; Ori D Fox; Alistair Glasse; Karl Gordon; Tom Greene; Dean C. Hines; Pierre-Olivier Lagage; Fred Lahuis; Samuel Ronayette; David Wright; Gillian S. Wright

doi:10.1117/12.2232887

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4 August 2016 The mid-infrared instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope: performance and operation of the Low-Resolution Spectrometer

Sarah Kendrew, Silvia Scheithauer, Patrice Bouchet, Jerome Amiaux, Ruymán Azzollini, Jeroen Bouwman, Christine Chen, Didier Dubreuil, Sebastian Fischer, Ori D Fox, Alistair Glasse, Karl Gordon, Tom Greene, Dean C. Hines, Pierre-Olivier Lagage, Fred Lahuis, Samuel Ronayette, David Wright, Gillian S. Wright

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Proceedings Volume 9904, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave; 990443 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232887
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

We describe here the performance and operational concept for the Low Resolution Spectrometer (LRS) of the mid-infrared instrument (MIRI) for the James Webb Space Telescope. The LRS will provide R∼100 slit and slitless spectroscopy from 5 to 12 micron, and its design is optimised for observations of compact sources, such as exoplanet host stars. We provide here an overview of the design of the LRS, and its performance as measured during extensive test campaigns, examining in particular the delivered image quality, dispersion, and resolving power, as well as spectrophotometric performance. The instrument also includes a slitless spectroscopy mode, which is optimally suited for transit spectroscopy of exoplanet atmospheres. We provide an overview of the operational procedures and the differences ahead of the JWST launch in 2018.

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Sarah Kendrew, Silvia Scheithauer, Patrice Bouchet, Jerome Amiaux, Ruymán Azzollini, Jeroen Bouwman, Christine Chen, Didier Dubreuil, Sebastian Fischer, Ori D Fox, Alistair Glasse, Karl Gordon, Tom Greene, Dean C. Hines, Pierre-Olivier Lagage, Fred Lahuis, Samuel Ronayette, David Wright, and Gillian S. Wright "The mid-infrared instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope: performance and operation of the Low-Resolution Spectrometer", Proc. SPIE 9904, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 990443 (4 August 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232887

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