Abstract

We present the requirements and conceptual design for an imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer operating in the 30 to 200 µm waveband. This instrument is intended for use on the Japanese SPace Infrared telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA). The wide waveband, the desire for a large instantaneous field of view and the restricted choice of detector technologies make the design of the instrument challenging. We review the technical issues associated with each of these areas as well as assessing the impact this instrument will have on the field of astrophysics in the coming decade.

© 2007 Optical Society of America