Probing unexplored territories with MUSE: a second generation instrument for the VLT

R. Bacon*, S. Bauer, P. Boehm, D. Boudon, S. Brau-Nogué, P. Caillier, L. Capoani, C. M. Carollo, N. Champavert, T. Contini, E. Daguisé, D. Dallé, B. Delabre, J. Devriendt, S. Dreizler, J. Dubois, M. Dupieux, J. P. Dupin, E. Emsellem, P. FerruitM. Franx, G. Gallou, J. Gerssen, B. Guiderdoni, T. Hahn, D. Hofmann, A. Jarno, A. Kelz, C. Koehler, W. Kollatschny, J. Kosmalski, F. Laurent, S. J. Lilly, J. Lizon, M. Loupias, S. Lynn, A. Manescau, R. M. McDermid, C. Monstein, H. Nicklas, L. Parès, L. Pasquini, A. Pécontal-Rousset, E. Pécontal, R. Pello, C. Petit, J. P. Picat, E. Popow, A. Quirrenbach, R. Reiss, E. Renault, M. Roth, J. Schaye, G. Soucail, M. Steinmetz, S. Stroebele, R. Stuik, P. Weilbacher, H. Wozniak, P. T. De Zeeuw

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceeding contributionpeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Summary: The Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) is a second-generation VLT panoramic integral-field spectrograph under preliminary design study. MUSE has a field of 1×1 arcmin2 sampled at 0.2×0.2 arcsec2 and is assisted by the VLT ground layer adaptive optics ESO facility using four laser guide stars. The simultaneous spectral range is 0.465-0.93 μm, at a resolution of R∼3000. MUSE couples the discovery potential of a large imaging device to the measuring capabilities of a high-quality spectrograph, while taking advantage of the increased spatial resolution provided by adaptive optics. This makes MUSE a unique and tremendously powerful instrument for discovering and characterizing objects that lie beyond the reach of even the deepest imaging surveys. MUSE has also a high spatial resolution mode with 7.5×7.5 arcsec2 field of view sampled at 25 milli-arcsec. In this mode MUSE should be able to obtain diffraction limited data-cubes in the 0.6-0.93 μm wavelength range. Although the MUSE design has been optimized for the study of galaxy formation and evolution, it has a wide range of possible applications; e.g. monitoring of outer planets atmosphere, environment of young stellar objects, super massive black holes and active nuclei in nearby galaxies or massive spectroscopic surveys of stellar fields in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGround-based and airborne instrumentation for astronomy
Place of PublicationBellingham, WA
PublisherSPIE
Pages1-9
Number of pages9
Volume6269 I
ISBN (Print)0819463345, 9780819463340
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
EventGround-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy - Orlando, FL, United States
Duration: 25 May 200629 May 2006

Other

OtherGround-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando, FL
Period25/05/0629/05/06

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