Important

Starting with P108, the offered modes of VISIR include regular and burst mode imaging, low-resolution spectroscopy, as well as long-slit and cross-dispersed high-resolution spectroscopy in both Service and Visitor Modes. Sparse Aperture Masking (SAM) and coronagraphy using the Annular Groove Phase Mask (AGPM) or Four Quadrant Phase Mask (4QPM) are offered in Visitor Mode only. Large and monitoring programmes are accepted only for imaging, low-resolution spectroscopy, as well as long-slit and cross-dispersed high-resolution spectroscopy.

Several instrument performance indicators have changed since the NEAR project was carried out with VISIR and the instrument was moved to UT2. Robust sensitivities are currently being established through the accumulation of the respective measurements. The currently announced sensitivities are still based on the instrument performance at UT3 and hence subject to change in the course of 2022.

The PWV must be provided as an observing constraint during Phase 1 and Phase 2 preparation, otherwise programmes will be rejected.

Summary of instrument capabilities

VISIR provides imaging and long-slit spectroscopy in the thermal infrared between 5 and 24µm at several spatial and spectral resolutions. To remove the high thermal background from the atmosphere and telescope, differential measurements are performed by chopping (moving the secondary mirror of the telescope) and nodding (moving the telescope itself).

The imager and spectrograph are two sub-instruments. They have independent light paths, optics and detectors. The imager contains various broad and narrow band filters as well as three objectives for different spatial resolutions and fields of view. Additionally, coronagraphy (using an Annular Groove Phase Mask or a 4-Quadrant Phase Mask) and sparse aperture masking (SAM) are possible with the imager, both in pupil and in field tracking modes. In Burst Mode, all individual exposures of the detector are recorded instead of only the averages per nodding cycle. The spectrometer has two arms, one with a prism and low order gratings for the low and medium (currently not offered) spectral resolution, the other with large echelle gratings providing high spectral resolution. Several slits with different widths are installed in the spectrometer.

The cryogenic optical bench is enclosed in a vacuum vessel. The vessel is a cylinder, 1.2m long and 1.5m in diameter. Standard Gifford-McMahon closed-cycle coolers are used to maintain the required temperature: 29K for most of the structure and optics and < 15K for the parts near the detector. The detectors are cooled down to ~10K. A quick overview of the imaging and spectroscopy modes of VISIR are given in the tables below.