NIRESI A FAINTEST OBJECT NEAR IR SPECTROGRAPH FOR KECK T.SOIFER & K. MATTHEWS

1. NIRESI A FAINTEST OBJECT NEAR IR SPECTROGRAPH FOR KECK T.SOIFER & K. MATTHEWS

2. SCIENTIFIC / TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES • FAINT OBJECTS • EROs associated w/SCUBA, OTHER SURVEYS • RED OBJECTS FOUND IN SIRTF SURVEYS • THIS IS OUR MAIN SCIENCE OBJECTIVE, ESTABLISHING Z FOR SIRTF SOURCES WHERE OPTICAL SPECTRA ARE IMPRACTICAL, NEED FULL 1-2.4um COVERAGE • SPECTRA AT ULTIMATE SENSITIVITY OF KECK SPANNING ENTIRE 1-2.4um RANGE AT ONE TIME • NIRSPEC REQUIRES 5 GRATING SETTINGS TO COVER ENTIRE 1-2.4UM RANGE AT R~2000

3. WHAT WE PROPOSE TO PROVIDE • SPECTROMETER, ELECTRONICS (SEE MATTHEWS PRESENTATION) DELIVERED TO KECK OBSERVATORY AT NO COST TO CARA • WE’VE DELIVERED 2 INSTRUMENTS TO KECK • WE KNOW THE INTERFACES • WE WILL MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE ENTIRE KECK COMMUNITY AS A GENERAL USER INSTRUMENT (KECK TO SUPPORT)

4. BENEFIT /COST TO KECK BENEFITS • NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART INSTRUMENT FOR KI • KI COMPLEMENT – NIRC+LWS, LRIS,HIRES • REDUCES PRESSURE ON KII COST • BENT CASS FOCUS IMPLEMENTED ON KI • MOVE FROM KII IS LEAST EXPENSIVE METHOD • SUPPORT TO KECK COMMUNITY • KECK WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION FOR USERS, INSTRUMENT SPECIALIST, CONSUMABLES (NITROGEN)

5. WHAT WE EXPECT/NEED • INSTRUMENT COST IS PRIMARY DRIVER • WE HAVE NO RESOURCES FOR MODIFYING DESIGN TO ADD ANY NON-ESSENTIALS • WE NEED TO COMMIT SIGNIFICANT $ SOON IF WE ARE TO PROCEED • WE REQUEST COMMITMENT FROM CARA TO SUPPORT THIS INSTRUMENT WHEN DELIVERED • WORK TO COMMENCE AT KECK ~ 6 MO BEFORE WE BELIEVE WE’LL BE READY TO DELIVER • WHEN WE DELIVER, WE’LL NEED ENGINEERING TIME FOR COMMISSIONING [NIRC, NIRC2 WORKED ON THE FIRST NIGHT THEY WERE OPENED TO SKY]