Astrophysical instrumentation

Infrared instrumentation

The instrumentation to detect and analyze the light in the infrared range of the spectrum is one of the fields of knowledge of the Instrumentation Division. The design and construction of infrared cameras and spectrographs requires high vacuum and cryogenic technologies, involving the specialties of mechanical engineering, optics and electronics, mainly. The integration and operation of mechanisms and devices in a cryogenic environment is especially complex and requires highly specialized knowledge and equipment. The Instrumentation Division has a long history of international participation in this type of instrumentation.

  • Optical bench, back view
    LIRIS - Long-slit Intermediate Resolution Infrared Spectrograph
    Intermediate spectrograph for the 4.2 m William Herschel telescope located at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos
    Arturo
    Manchado Torres
  • Dos vistas distintas del instrumento
    TIP II - Tenerife Infrared Polarimeter II
    TIP II is an improvement of the Tenerife Infrared polarimeter (TIP) built by the IAC for the VTT telescope in the Teide Observatory. TIP II includes a new detector, and new data acquisition and control systems. It is installed in the GREGOR telescope, ans is used with the GRIS spectrograph.
  • NAHUAL
    Infrared high-resolution echelle spectrograph for the Great Telescope CANARIAS (GTC) of the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos in the island of La Palma. The main scientific objective of the instrument is to measure the radial velocity (RV) with very high precision (goal of 1 m/s) in the near infrared.
    Víctor Javier
    Sánchez Bejar