Cel
Studying the kinematics and dynamics of galaxies in the early Universe is crucial to our understanding of their evolution.
However, galaxies in a certain age range, corresponding to red-shifts between ~1 and 2, are difficult to observe spectroscopically, be cause none of their prominent spectral features fall within the atmosphere and detector limited bandpasses.
Building on the team leaders extensive experience, coupled with an Oxford Physics infrastructure that fosters excellence, we propose to build an innovative visitor instrument for large telescopes.
The new instrument, SWIFT, will observe galaxies in this redshift desert at high resolution, exploiting two recent advances in astronomical instrumentation - adaptive optics (AO) systems that provide high angular resolution, and integral field spectrographs (IFS) that provide spectra of all spatial elements within a two dimensional field of view in a single exposure.
SWIFT will use a deep depletion CCD detector for high sensitivity in the 750 to 1000 nm wavelength range (where the sky background is substantially lower than in the near-infrared), coupled with a high throughput, high quality image slicer that will be developed as part of the project.
It will be coupled with AO systems at the European ESO-VLT and Gemini telescopes, to provide an unique combination of sensitivity and enhanced spatial resolution (improving both by factors of 2-3 over current instruments).
Using SWIFT, the team will carry out ground-breaking research in the dynamics of moderate red-shift galaxies, and the demographics of super-massive black holes in nearby galaxies. SWIFTs technical innovation in the design and fabrication of image-slicers will establish a new IFS team at Oxford, thus ensuring that Europe maintains its place at the forefront of integral field spectroscopy.
Oxford University will strongly support this proposal by providing matching funds to pay for all instrument hardware, amounting to ~25% of total project costs.
Dziedzina nauki
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensors
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyastrophysicsblack holes
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy
Zaproszenie do składania wniosków
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-8
Zobacz inne projekty w ramach tego zaproszenia
System finansowania
EXT - Marie Curie actions-Grants for Excellent TeamsKoordynator
OXFORD
Zjednoczone Królestwo