An integral field spectrograph utilizing mirrorlet arrays. Issue 9 (28th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chamberlin, Phillip C.; Gong, Qian
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 121:Issue 9(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 8250
• Page End: 8259
• Publication Date: 2016-09-28
• Subjects: Heliophysics -- instrumentation -- EUV -- solar -- photons -- solar eruptive events; Magnetospheric physics -- Periodicals; Space environment -- Periodicals; Cosmic physics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Atmospheres -- Periodicals; Heliosphere (Astrophysics) -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 523.01
• DOI: 10.1002/2016JA022487
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9380

Abstract

Abstract: An integral field spectrograph (IFS) has been developed that utilizes a new and novel optical design to observe two spatial dimensions simultaneously with one spectral dimension. This design employs an optical 2‐D array of reflecting and focusing mirrorlets. This mirrorlet array is placed at the imaging plane of the front‐end telescope to generate a 2‐D array of tiny spots replacing what would be the slit in a traditional slit spectrometer design. After the mirrorlet in the optical path, a grating on a concave mirror surface will image the spot array and provide high‐resolution spectrum for each spatial element at the same time; therefore, the IFS simultaneously obtains the 3‐D data cube of two spatial and one spectral dimensions. The new mirrorlet technology is currently in‐house and undergoing laboratory testing at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Section 1 describes traditional classes of instruments that are used in Heliophysics missions and a quick introduction to the new IFS design. Section 2 discusses the details of the most generic mirrorlet IFS, while section 3 presents test results of a lab‐based instrument. An example application to a Heliophysics mission to study solar eruptive events in extreme ultraviolet wavelengths is presented in section 4 that has high spatial resolution (0.5 arc sec pixels) in the two spatial dimensions and high spectral resolution (66 mÅ) across a 15 Å spectral window. Section 4 also concludes with some other optical variations that could be employed on the more basic IFS for further capabilities of this type of instrument. Key Points: A new class of spaceborne imaging spectrometers has been developed, an integral field spectrograph (IFS) An IFS can simultaneously obtain three dimensions of measurements of two spatial and one spectral dimensions An IFS can be specially suited to study explosive, unpredictable events in Heliophysics, Earth Science, and Astrophysics