WST - Widefield Spectroscopic Telescope

Author(s)

Roland Bacon, Vincenzo Maineiri, Sofia Randich, Andrea Cimatti, Jean Paul Kneib, Jarle Brinchmann, Richard Ellis, Eline Tolstoy, Rodolfo Smiljanic, Vanessa Hill, Richard I. Anderson, Paula Sanchez Saez, Cyrielle Opitom, Ian Bryson, Philippe Dierickx, Bianca Garilli, Oscar Gonzalez, Roelof de Jong, David Lee, Steffen Mieske, Angel Otarola, Pietro Schipani, Tony Travouillon, Joel Vernet, Julia Bryant, Marc Casali, Matthew Colless, Warrick Couch, Simon Driver, Adriano Fontana, Matthew Lehnert, Laura Magrini, Ben Montet, Luca Pasquini, Martin Roth, Ruben Sanchez-Janssen, Matthias Steinmetz, Laurence Tresse, Christophe Yeche, Bodo Ziegler

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the wide-field spectroscopic survey telescope (WST) project. WST is a 12-metre wide-field spectroscopic survey telescope with simultaneous operation of a large field-of-view (3 sq. degree), high-multiplex (20,000) multi-object spectrograph (MOS), with both a low and high-resolution modes, and a giant 3×3 arcmin² integral field spectrograph (IFS). In scientific capability, these specifications place WST far ahead of existing and planned facilities. In only 5 years of operation, the MOS would target 250 million galaxies and 25 million stars at low spectral resolution, plus 2 million stars at high resolution. Without need for preimaged targets, the IFS would deliver 4 billion spectra offering many serendipitous discoveries. Given the current investment in deep imaging surveys and noting the diagnostic power of spectroscopy, WST will fill a crucial gap in astronomical capability and work in synergy with future ground and space-based facilities. We show how it can address outstanding scientific questions in the areas of cosmology; galaxy assembly, evolution, and enrichment, including our own Milky Way; the origin of stars and planets; and time domain and multi-messenger astrophysics. WST's uniquely rich dataset may yield unforeseen discoveries in many of these areas. The telescope and instruments are designed as an integrated system and will mostly use existing technology, with the aim to minimise the carbon footprint and environmental impact. We will propose WST as the next European Southern Observatory (ESO) project after completion of the 39-metre ELT.

Organisation(s)

Department of Astrophysics

External organisation(s)

École normale supérieure de Lyon (ENS Lyon), European Southern Observatory (Germany), INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, University of Bologna, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço, University College London, University of Groningen, Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Ctr., Université Côte d'Azur, UK Research and Innovation, Instituto Nazionale die Astrofisica (INAF), Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam, INAF Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte , Australian National University, The University of Sydney, Macquarie University, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Western Australia, INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, University of New South Wales, Aix-Marseille Université, CEA IRFU

Volume

13094

No. of pages

15

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3018093

Publication date

09-2024

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, Computer Science Applications, Applied Mathematics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/da1af47a-b3fa-4d54-9a0f-4bb7edaa25fc