NIRSpec, The Near-ir Multi-object Spectrograph For JWST

Abstract

NIRSpec will be the first slit-based astronomical multi-object spectrograph to fly in space, and is designed to provide spectra of faint objects over the near-infrared 1.0 - 5.0 micron wavelength range at spectral resolutions of R=100, R=1000 and R=2700. The instrument's all-reflective wide-field optics, together with its novel MEMS-based programmable micro-shutter array slit selection device and its large format low-noise HgCdTe detector arrays, combine to allow simultaneous observations of >100 objects within a 3.4 x 3.5 arcmin field of view with unprecedented sensitivity. A selectable 3 x 3 arcsec Integral Field Unit and five fixed slits are also available for detailed spectroscopic studies of single objects. NIRSpec is being built for the European Space Agency (ESA) by EADS Astrium as part of ESA's contribution to the JWST mission. The NIRSpec micro-shutter and detector arrays are provided by NASA/GSFC.