The Mid-infrared E-ELT Imager and Spectrograph (METIS)

TL;DR

METIS is a high-resolution infrared instrument for the E-ELT, enabling advanced imaging, spectroscopy, and polarimetry to study various astronomical phenomena with recent technological and scientific advancements.

Contribution

The paper details recent developments in METIS's design, technology, and science case, enhancing its capabilities for early scientific discovery on the E-ELT.

Findings

Updated science case for star and planet formation

Advances in adaptive optics and instrument modeling

Development of novel cryogenic and coronagraphic technologies

Abstract

METIS will be among the first generation of scientific instruments on the E-ELT. Focusing on highest angular resolution and high spectral resolution, METIS will provide diffraction limited imaging and coronagraphy from 3-14um over an 20"x20" field of view, as well as integral field spectroscopy at R ~ 100,000 from 2.9-5.3um. In addition, METIS provides medium-resolution (R ~ 5000) long slit spectroscopy, and polarimetric measurements at N band. While the baseline concept has already been discussed, this paper focuses on the significant developments over the past two years in several areas: The science case has been updated to account for recent progress in the main science areas circum-stellar disks and the formation of planets, exoplanet detection and characterization, Solar system formation, massive stars and clusters, and star formation in external galaxies. We discuss the developments in the adaptive optics (AO) concept for METIS, the telescope interface, and the instrument modelling. Last but not least, we provide an overview of our technology development programs, which ranges from coronagraphic masks, immersed gratings, and cryogenic beam chopper to novel approaches to mirror polishing, background calibration and cryo-cooling. These developments have further enhanced the design and technology readiness of METIS to reliably serve as an early discovery machine on the E-ELT.