MITS: the Multi-Imaging Transient Spectrograph for SOXS

Abstract

The Son Of X-Shooter (SOXS) 1 is a medium resolution spectrograph (R ∼ 4500) proposed for the ESO 3.6 m NTT. We present the optical design of the UV-VIS arm of SOXS which employs high efficiency ion-etched gratings used in first order (m = 1) as the main dispersers. The spectral band is split into four channels which are directed to individual gratings, and imaged simultaneously by a single three-element catadioptric camera. The expected throughput of our design is > 60% including contingency. The SOXS collaboration expects first light in early 2021. This paper is one of several papers presented in these proceedings 2-10 describing the full SOXS instrument.Corresponding author A.R., adam.rubin@weizmann.ac.il * For design purposes we assume a 1 slit. A 1 is also assumed for the quoted resolution.

SOXS: a wide band spectrograph to follow up transients

“…The SOXS UV-VIS spectrograph [12] is based on a novel concept in which the incoming beam is partitioned into four polychromatic beams using dichroic surfaces, each covering a waveband range of ~100-200 nm. Each quasi-order is diffracted by an ion-etched grating.…”

The assembly integration and test activities for the new SOXS instrument at NTT

“…SOXS is designed to be modular: the main subsystems that constitute the instrument are the Common Path (CP) [3], UV-VIS Spectrograph (UVVIS-S) [4], [5], the NIR Spectrograph (NIR-S) [6], the Acquisition Camera (AC) [7] and the Calibration Unit (CU). In the following sections, we briefly describe them, referring the reader to [8], [9], [10], [11] for more detailed description of their mechanics, optics, electronics and software design, and we present the approach for the AIT procedure.…”

Son of X–Shooter: a multi–band instrument for a multi–band universe

“…SOXS will be mounted at the Nasmyth focus of NTT replacing SOFI. The whole system (see Figure 2) has three scientific arms: the UV-VIS spectrograph [41,42], the NIR Spectrograph [43] and the acquisition camera [44]. The three main arms, the calibration box and the NTT are connected together [45] by the Common Path (CP).…”

“…The SOXS UV-VIS spectrograph [41] is based on a novel concept in which the incoming beam is partitioned into four polychromatic beams using dichroic surfaces, each covering a waveband range of ∼ 100 nm (see Figure 6). Each quasi-order is diffracted by an ion-etched grating.…”