Design and manufacture of the integrated field unit for the NIRSpec spectrometer on JWST

Dan Lobb; David Robertson; Martin Closs; Andy Barnes

doi:10.1117/12.797766

27 September 2008 Design and manufacture of the integrated field unit for the NIRSpec spectrometer on JWST

Dan Lobb, David Robertson, Martin Closs, Andy Barnes

Proceedings Volume 7100, Optical Design and Engineering III; 710012 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.797766
Event: Optical Systems Design, 2008, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Abstract

The NIRSpec imaging spectrometer, which forms part of the James Webb Space Telescope instrumentation, will include an integrated field unit (IFU). The IFU will be tasked specifically with efficient analysis of extended objects, including galaxies; it will accept a square image area at the spectrometer entrance field, dissect this area into 30 parallel sub-slits, and image the sub-slits end-to-end, forming a single virtual entrance slit. The IFU, uses all-mirror optics to operate over the spectral range 700nm to 5000nm. 95 mirrors and the main support structure are made in a common aluminium alloy, to achieve athermal performance down to an operating temperature of around 30K. Relatively complex mirror surface shapes are produced by diamond machining. The IFU has been designed and constructed by SSTL, with optics produced by CfAI; the unit is currently undergoing performance tests. This paper describes the IFU optical design and performance, and outlines the mirror manufacturing methods and alignment procedures.

Citation Download Citation

Dan Lobb, David Robertson, Martin Closs, and Andy Barnes "Design and manufacture of the integrated field unit for the NIRSpec spectrometer on JWST", Proc. SPIE 7100, Optical Design and Engineering III, 710012 (27 September 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.797766

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