Optical-InfraRed Instruments

Hectospec focal surface
Hectospec focal surface with 300 robotically-positioned optical fibers.

Research Description

Instrument Group, led by Daniel Fabricant, designs, develops and operates instruments for the 6.5 m MMT and Magellan Telescopes, as well as the 1.2 and 1.5 meter telescopes on Mt. Hopkins. These include optical and near-infrared cameras and spectrographs that support a broad range of research from exoplanets to cosmology. The group has recently developed conceptual designs for wide-field near-infrared and precision radial velocity spectrographs for the 25m Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT).

Instruments in operation include Megacam and MMIRS at the Magellan Clay Telescope and Hectospec, Hectochelle, and SWIRC at the MMT. Binospec, a powerful optical spectrograph, is scheduled for delivery at the MMT in early 2014.

Warren Brown is involved in the design of advanced infrared spectrographs and characterization of the performance of existing instruments, and leads the OIR Telescope Data Center. Nelson Caldwell leads the scientific operations for Hectospec and Hectochelle. Daniel Fabricant is leading the development of Binospec and the design study for the GMT wide-field infrared spectrograph. John Geary develops electronics to operate large optical and near infrared arrays, and is expert in the characteristics of these detectors. Brian McLeod is leading the development of the adaptive optics (AO) phasing camera for GMT and is actively involved with AO development for GMT, and infrared spectroscopy with current and future instruments. Andrew Szentgyorgyi is developing laser comb technology for calibration of ultra-precise radial velocity spectrographs, and new concepts for precision radial velocity instruments, including a GMT instrument.