OCTOCAM: A fast multichannel imager and spectrograph for the 10.4m GTC

TL;DR

OCTOCAM is a versatile, high-speed, multi-channel instrument for the GTC telescope, enabling simultaneous imaging and spectroscopy across a broad wavelength range with high spectral and temporal resolution.

Contribution

It introduces a novel multi-channel design with simultaneous multi-band imaging and spectroscopy, including high-resolution modes, for the 10.4m GTC telescope.

Findings

Simultaneous observations in 8 bands from UV to near-IR.

Spectroscopic coverage from 4,000 to 23,000 Å with variable resolution.

High readout speeds enabling rapid observations.

Abstract

OCTOCAM is a multi-channel imager and spectrograph that has been proposed for the 10.4m GTC telescope. It will use dichroics to split the incoming light to produce simultaneous observations in 8 different bands, ranging from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared. The imaging mode will have a field of view of 2' x 2' in u, g, r, i, z, J, H and Ks bands, whereas the long-slit spectroscopic mode will cover the complete range from 4,000 to 23,000 {\AA} with a resolution of 700 - 1,700 (depending on the arm and slit width). An additional mode, using an image slicer, will deliver a spectral resolution of over 3,000. As a further feature, it will use state of the art detectors to reach high readout speeds of the order of tens of milliseconds. In this way, OCTOCAM will be occupying a region of the time resolution - spectral resolution - spectral coverage diagram that is not covered by a single instrument in any other observatory, with an exceptional sensitivity.