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MegaMIR: The Megapixel Mid-Infrared Instrument for the Large Binocular Telescope InterferometerThe Megapixel Mid-infrared Instrument (MegaMIR) is a proposed Fizeau-mode camera for the Large Binocular Telescope operating at wavelengths between 5 and 28 micrometers. The camera will be used in conjunction with the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI), a cryogenic optical system that combines the beams from twin 8.4-m telescopes in a phase coherent manner. Unlike other interferometric systems, the co-mounted telescopes on the LBT satisfy the sine condition, providing diffraction-limited resolution over the 40" field of view of the camera. With a 22.8-m baseline, MegaMIR will yield 0.1" angular resolution, making it the highest resolution wide field imager in the thermal infrared for at least the next decade. MegaMIR will utilize a newly developed 1024 x 1024 pixel Si:As detector array that has been optimized for use at high backgrounds. This new detector is a derivative of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) low-background detector. The combination of high angular resolution and wide field imaging will be a unique scientific capability for astronomy. Key benefits will be realized in planetary science, galactic, and extra-galactic astronomy. High angular resolution is essential to disentangle highly complex sources, particularly in star formation regions and external galaxies, and MegaMIR provides this performance over a full field of view. Because of the great impact being made by space observatories like the Spitzer Space Telescope, the number of available targets for study has greatly increased in recent years, and MegaMIR will allow efficient follow up science.
Document ID
20070023648
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Mainzer, Amanda K.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Young, Erick
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Hong, John
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Werner, Mike
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Hinz, Phil
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Gorjan, Varoujan
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Ressler, Michael E.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
May 27, 2006
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: May 24, 2006
End Date: May 31, 2006
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
ultraluminous galaxies
anuglar resolution wide field imager
Megapixel Mid-infrared Instrument (MegaMIR)
infrared camera
brown dwarfs

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