MegaMIR: a Fizeau thermal infrared camera for the LBTI

A. K. Mainzer; Erick Young; John Hong; Phil Hinz; Mike Werner; Varoujan Gorjian; Michael E. Ressler

doi:10.1117/12.670380

28 June 2006 MegaMIR: a Fizeau thermal infrared camera for the LBTI

A. K. Mainzer, Erick Young, John Hong, Phil Hinz, Mike Werner, Varoujan Gorjian, Michael E. Ressler

Proceedings Volume 6269, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy; 626910 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670380
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

The Megapixel Mid-infrared Instrument (MegaMIR) is a proposed Fizeau-mode camera for the Large Binocular Telescope operating at wavelengths between 5 and 28 μm. The camera will be used in conjunction with the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI), a cryogenic optical system that combines the beams from twin 8.4-m telescopes in a phase coherent manner. Unlike other interferometric systems, the co-mounted telescopes on the LBT satisfy the sine condition, providing diffraction-limited resolution over the 40" field of view of the camera. With a 22.8-m baseline, MegaMIR will yield 0.1" angular resolution, making it the highest resolution wide field imager in the thermal infrared for at least the next decade. MegaMIR will utilize a newly developed 1024 x 1024 pixel Si:As detector array that has been optimized for use at high backgrounds. This new detector is a derivative of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) low-background detector. The combination of high angular resolution and wide field imaging will be a unique scientific capability for astronomy. Key benefits will be realized in planetary science, galactic, and extra-galactic astronomy. High angular resolution is essential to disentangle highly complex sources, particularly in star formation regions and external galaxies, and MegaMIR provides this performance over a full field of view. Because of the great impact being made by space observatories like the Spitzer Space Telescope, the number of available targets for study has greatly increased in recent years, and MegaMIR will allow efficient follow up science.

Citation Download Citation

A. K. Mainzer, Erick Young, John Hong, Phil Hinz, Mike Werner, Varoujan Gorjian, and Michael E. Ressler "MegaMIR: a Fizeau thermal infrared camera for the LBTI", Proc. SPIE 6269, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy, 626910 (28 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670380

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available