Development of an integral field unit for a near-infrared multi-object imaging spectrograph SWIMS

Abstract

We are developing an integral field unit (IFU) for a near-infrared multi-object imaging spectrograph SWIMS (Simultaneous-color Wide-field Infrared Multi-object Spectrograph). SWIMS is an instrument for the 6.5m telescope of the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) project on the summit of Co. Chajnantor (altitude of 5,640m) in northern Chile. Most of near infrared integral field spectrographs (IFSs) on 8–10m class telescopes are used with adaptive optics and have fine spatial sampling. Compared with them, SWIMS IFU has higher sensitivity for extended objects because it has coarser spatial sampling optimized for seeing-limit observations. We have investigated the feasible optical design, and found a possible layout whose field of view is about 14 x 10 arcsec² with 0.4 arcsec slice width. All IFU mirror arrays will be made of aluminum alloy to match the thermal expansion with support structures, as they are placed in a cryogenic environment. They will be fabricated monolithically with high precision machining to reduce alignment process. We have carried out a fabrication test of a spherical surface and confirmed that surface roughness and surface figure error are enough low for near-infrared light. As a next step, fabrication of a prototype mirror array with 3 reflective surfaces is planned. In this paper, we will show our project outline, the IFU optical design and the results of prototyping works.