VIRUS2: a next generation replicated integral field spectrograph with wide field and broad wavelength coverage

Gary J. Hill; Hanshin Lee; John M. Good; Niv Drory; Jason G. Vestuto; Brian L. Vattiat; Casey Kyte; Gregory R. Zeimann; Michael P Smith; Briana L Indahl; Christian Haubitz-Reinke

doi:10.1117/12.3017716

18 July 2024 VIRUS2: a next generation replicated integral field spectrograph with wide field and broad wavelength coverage

Gary J. Hill, Hanshin Lee, John M. Good, Niv Drory, Jason G. Vestuto, Brian L. Vattiat, Casey Kyte, Gregory R. Zeimann, Michael P Smith, Briana L Indahl, Christian Haubitz-Reinke

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 13096, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy X; 130960F (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3017716
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2024, Yokohama, Japan

Abstract

The VIRUS2 instrument is a new fiber-fed multiplexed integral field spectrograph consisting of 6 units, each with 4 spectral channels, to provide large on-sky area coverage coupled with broad spectral coverage. VIRUS2 will be a new facility instrument on the McDonald Observatory 2.7 m Harlan J Smith Telescope with 2.33 arcminute field of view and 2.5 arcsecond spatial sampling. The instrument employs a novel beam-switch module within the fiber feed to split the light into the 4 spectral channels covering 370-930 nm at R~2000, while achieving a very compact and highly stable instrument. The design of VIRUS2 emphasizes stability and careful calibration, with scrambling in the beam-switch module, compact spectrograph format, and tight thermal control. This is the first time such measures have been employed at moderate spectral resolution. In this paper, we provide an overview of the instrument and the build status of the 24 spectrographs, detector system, integral field units, and telescope interface. VIRUS2 is funded by NSF and deployment will start in late 2024.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Gary J. Hill, Hanshin Lee, John M. Good, Niv Drory, Jason G. Vestuto, Brian L. Vattiat, Casey Kyte, Gregory R. Zeimann, Michael P Smith, Briana L Indahl, and Christian Haubitz-Reinke "VIRUS2: a next generation replicated integral field spectrograph with wide field and broad wavelength coverage", Proc. SPIE 13096, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy X, 130960F (18 July 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3017716

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