Digital micromirror array enabled integral field spectroscopy for far-ultraviolet astronomy

We present the design for a far-UV integral field spectrograph for astronomy enabled by two-axis digital micromirror arrays. Techniques used for integral field spectroscopy in the Optical-IR bandpass either do not apply to the far-UV due to low material transmission, or have other UV-specific challenges. In order to circumvent this limitation, we have designed an all-reflective method of dynamically reformatting the focal plane of a telescope with micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS). The Adaptive Micromirror Array Demonstration Experiment for Ultraviolet Spectroscopy (AMADEUS) is a benchtop far-UV/Optical spectrograph designed to demonstrate that the stability, repeatability, and scattered light contamination are all sufficiently controlable to use these devices in a high sensitivity astronomical instrument. The use of MOEMS devices enables the focal plane mapping to be reconfigured at will, providing some field sampling and path length control advantages relative to conventional Optical/IR techniques for integral field spectroscopy. We report on the design of AMADEUS and present a spectrograph concept for a future sub-orbital mission.

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