SPIRou: the near-infrared spectropolarimeter/high-precision velocimeter for the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope

TL;DR

SPIRou is a next-generation near-infrared spectropolarimeter and velocimeter designed for the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, aiming to detect habitable super-Earths and study magnetic fields in star and planet formation.

Contribution

This paper provides an overview of SPIRou's optical and mechanical design, highlighting its capabilities and scientific goals.

Findings

Designed to cover 0.98-2.35 μm spectral range at R=73,500

Achieves 1 m/s radial velocity precision for low-mass stars

Scheduled for first light in late 2017

Abstract

SPIRou is a near-IR \'echelle spectropolarimeter and high-precision velocimeter under construction as a next-generation instrument for the Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope. It is designed to cover a very wide simultaneous near-IR spectral range (0.98-2.35 {\mu}m) at a resolving power of 73.5K, providing unpolarized and polarized spectra of low-mass stars at a radial velocity (RV) precision of 1m/s. The main science goals of SPIRou are the detection of habitable super-Earths around low-mass stars and the study of how critically magnetic fields impact star / planet formation. Following a successful final design review in Spring 2014, SPIRou is now under construction and is scheduled to see first light in late 2017. We present an overview of key aspects of SPIRou's optical and mechanical design.