Status of the mid-infrared E-ELT imager and spectrograph METIS

Author(s)
Bernhard Brandl, T. Agocs, Gabby Aitink-Kroes, Thomas Betram, F. Bettonvil, Manuel Güdel, Michael Mach
Abstract

METIS is one the first three instruments on the E-ELT. Apart from diffraction limited imaging, METIS will provide coronagraphy and medium resolution slit spectroscopy over the 3 - 19μm range, as well as high resolution (R 100,000) integral field spectroscopy from 2.9 - 5.3μm, including a mode with extended instantaneous wavelength coverage. The unique combination of these observing capabilities, makes METIS the ideal instrument for the study of circumstellar disks and exoplanets, among many other science areas. In this paper we provide an update of the relevant science drivers, the METIS observing modes, the status of the simulator and the data analysis. We discuss the preliminary design of the optical system, which is driven by the need to calibrate observations at thermal IR wavelengths on a six-mirror ELT. We present the expected adaptive optics performance and the measures taken to enable high contrast imaging. We describe the opto-mechanical system, the location of METIS on the Nasmyth instrument platform, and conclude with an update on critical subsystem components, such as the immersed grating and the focal plane detectors. In summary, the work on METIS has taken off well and is on track for first light in 2025.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), Leiden University
No. of pages
15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233974
Publication date
08-2016
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Condensed Matter Physics, Applied Mathematics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Science Applications
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/af664ce9-31c4-4f5e-83d6-531dc65a9d82