The Ultraviolet Micromirror Imaging Spectrograph: a multi-object spectrograph for far UV astronomy

Ambily Suresh; Brian T. Fleming; Natalie K. Anderson; Dmitry Vorobiev; Jack Williams; Dana Chafetz; Kevin France; Rebecca Schindhelm; Amanda Hendrix; Oliver Kilbury; Patrick Kerrigan

doi:10.1117/12.2593860

20 August 2021 The Ultraviolet Micromirror Imaging Spectrograph: a multi-object spectrograph for far UV astronomy

Ambily Suresh, Brian T. Fleming, Natalie K. Anderson, Dmitry Vorobiev, Jack Williams, Dana Chafetz, Kevin France, Rebecca Schindhelm, Amanda Hendrix, Oliver Kilbury, Patrick Kerrigan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11819, UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes and Instruments: Innovative Technologies and Concepts X; 118190H (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2593860
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2021, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Improving the spectral multiplexing efficiency of ultraviolet (UV) instruments is one of the essential technology developments for future large missions. This is particularly hard in the far UV (FUV), where high reflectivity coatings and high material transmission are difficult to achieve. We present here the concept and design of the Ultraviolet Micromirror Imaging Spectrograph (UMIS), which utilizes Analog Micromirror Arrays (AMAs) as the spectral multiplexing element. These Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MOEMS)-based mirrors can be dynamically programmed to probe multiple points of interest across a wide field of view without spectral confusion limitations. We have assembled a benchtop version of UMIS, to characterize the individual arrays and to evaluate the performance of the overall system in optical and FUV wavelengths. The instrument consists of a 75 cm off-axis telescope, with two AMAs placed on either side of the focal plane, and an optical spectrograph with a resolution of about R=1000. The individual mirror orientations can be adjusted by varying their bias voltages, which are controlled using custom electronic boards designed and fabricated by Ball Aerospace and LASP. The same testbed will be reconfigured with an FUV grating and detector, to calibrate the instrument in a vacuum environment and qualify the AMAs for future flight missions.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Ambily Suresh, Brian T. Fleming, Natalie K. Anderson, Dmitry Vorobiev, Jack Williams, Dana Chafetz, Kevin France, Rebecca Schindhelm, Amanda Hendrix, Oliver Kilbury, and Patrick Kerrigan "The Ultraviolet Micromirror Imaging Spectrograph: a multi-object spectrograph for far UV astronomy", Proc. SPIE 11819, UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes and Instruments: Innovative Technologies and Concepts X, 118190H (20 August 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2593860

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