AIRES: an airborne infrared echelle spectrometer for SOFIA

Details AIRES: an airborne infrared echelle spectrometer for SOFIA AIRES: an airborne infrared echelle spectrometer for SOFIA

Oct 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007spie.6678e..13e&link_type=abstract

Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing and Instrumentation XV. Edited by Strojnik-Scholl, Marija. Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume

Computer Science

Performance

Scientific paper

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) will enable unique astronomical observations from visible to millimeter wavelengths. AIRES, a long-slit spectrograph with a mid-infrared slit viewing camera, would enable spectral imaging of gas-phase spectral features between 17 and 210 μm with resolving powers from ~60,000 to 5000. The Cryogenic Grating Spectrometer (CGS: AIRES' predecessor) which was flown on NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) for 13 years, demonstrated the importance of this wavelength range. A 1997 proposal to develop AIRES was selected as the highest-ranked of 19 U.S. competitors for first-generation SOFIA science instruments. Funding was terminated in 2001 due to budget problems associated with an original under estimate and the advent of full cost accounting in NASA. Here we summarize AIRES' expected performance, its science potential, its status, and lessons learned. Highlighted are three successfully accomplished major technical developments: the world's largest monolithic cryogenic grating, cryogenic multiplexing amplifiers for far-infrared germanium photoconductor detectors, and an optical/mechanical design in a package suitable for installation on SOFIA. We show that AIRES would fill a unique role among other spectroscopic capabilities foreseen for space-borne missions. AIRES' capabilities remain a high but unfilled priority for SOFIA, and for the science community in general.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

AIRES: an airborne infrared echelle spectrometer for SOFIA does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with AIRES: an airborne infrared echelle spectrometer for SOFIA, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and AIRES: an airborne infrared echelle spectrometer for SOFIA will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-954715