The LUVOIR Ultraviolet Multi-Object Spectrograph (LUMOS): Instrument definition and design

Kevin France, Brian Fleming, Garrett West, Stephan R. McCandliss, Matthew R. Bolcar, Walter Harris, Leonidas Moustakas, John M. O'Meara, Ilaria Pascucci, Jane Rigby, David Schiminovich, Jason Tumlinson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Large Ultraviolet/Optical/Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR) is one of four large mission concepts currently undergoing community study for consideration by the 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey. LUVOIR is being designed to pursue an ambitious program of exoplanetary discovery and characterization, cosmic origins astrophysics, and planetary science. The LUVOIR study team is investigating two large telescope apertures (9-And 15-meter primary mirror diameters) and a host of science instruments to carry out the primary mission goals. Many of the exoplanet, cosmic origins, and planetary science goals of LUVOIR require high-Throughput, imaging spectroscopy at ultraviolet (100-400 nm) wavelengths. The LUVOIR Ultraviolet Multi-Object Spectrograph, LUMOS, is being designed to support all of the UV science requirements of LUVOIR, from exoplanet host star characterization to tomography of circumgalactic halos to water plumes on outer solar system satellites. LUMOS offers point source and multi-object spectroscopy across the UV bandpass, with multiple resolution modes to support different science goals. The instrument will provide low (R = 8,000-18,000) and medium (R = 30,000-65,000) resolution modes across the far-ultraviolet (FUV: 100-200 nm) and nearultraviolet (NUV: 200-400 nm) windows, and a very low resolution mode (R = 500) for spectroscopic investigations of extremely faint objects in the FUV. Imaging spectroscopy will be accomplished over a 3 × 1.6 arcminute field-of-view by employing holographically-ruled diffraction gratings to control optical aberrations, microshutter arrays (MSA) built on the heritage of the Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), advanced optical coatings for high-Throughput in the FUV, and next generation large-format photon-counting detectors. The spectroscopic capabilities of LUMOS are augmented by an FUV imaging channel (100-200nm, 13 milliarcsecond angular resolution, 2 × 2 arcminute field-of-view) that will employ a complement of narrow-And medium-band filters. The instrument definition, design, and development are being carried out by an instrument study team led by the University of Colorado, Goddard Space Flight Center, and the LUVOIR Science and Technology Definition Team. LUMOS has recently completed a preliminary design in Goddard's Instrument Design Laboratory and is being incorporated into the working LUVOIR mission concept. In this proceeding, we describe the instrument requirements for LUMOS, the instrument design, and technology development recommendations to support the hardware required for LUMOS. We present an overview of LUMOS' observing modes and estimated performance curves for effective area, spectral resolution, and imaging performance. Example "LUMOS 100-hour Highlights" observing programs are presented to demonstrate the potential power of LUVOIR's ultraviolet spectroscopic capabilities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XX
EditorsOswald H. Siegmund
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510612518
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
EventUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XX 2017 - San Diego, United States
Duration: Aug 6 2017Aug 8 2017

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume10397
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XX 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period8/6/178/8/17

Keywords

  • Large mission study: LUVOIR
  • Optical coatings
  • Photon-counting detectors
  • Science drivers
  • Spectrograph design
  • Ultraviolet spectroscopy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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