Binospec: a dual-beam wide-field optical spectrograph for the converted MMT

Daniel G. Fabricant; Robert G. Fata; Harland W. Epps

doi:10.1117/12.316765

9 July 1998 Binospec: a dual-beam wide-field optical spectrograph for the converted MMT

Daniel G. Fabricant, Robert G. Fata, Harland W. Epps

Proceedings Volume 3355, Optical Astronomical Instrumentation; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.316765
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

Binospec is a wide-field, multi-object optical spectrograph to be used at the f/5 focus of the converted 6.5 m Multiple Mirror Telescope. Its dual beams will address adjacent 8' X 15' fields of view, yielding a total slit length of 30'. Binospec will offer approximately 1 - 6 Angstrom resolution at wavelengths between 0.39 and 1.0 micrometer with a 200 mm collimated beam diameter. Although it is difficult to design an f/5 wide-field collimator, f/5 optics are compact, allowing a small and stiff instrument structure. Binospec uses refractive optics throughout; the collimator contains three lens groups and the camera contains four lens groups. Three aspheric surfaces are used: two in the collimator and one in the camera. A pair of 2048 by 4608 pixel CCD detectors are used for each beam, yielding a sampling of 0.22' per pixel. Binospec's innovative optical design allows excellent image quality. Including the contribution of the MMT optics with the f/5 wide-field corrector, the RMS image diameter at Binospec's focal plane is 18 micrometer (1.3 pixels) averaged over field angles and colors.

Citation Download Citation

Daniel G. Fabricant, Robert G. Fata, and Harland W. Epps "Binospec: a dual-beam wide-field optical spectrograph for the converted MMT", Proc. SPIE 3355, Optical Astronomical Instrumentation, (9 July 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.316765

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