The Mid-Infrared Instrument for JWST, II: Design and Build

TL;DR

The paper details the design, construction, and testing of MIRI, an instrument on JWST that offers imaging, spectroscopy, and coronagraphy in the mid-infrared range, crucial for space-based astronomical observations.

Contribution

It presents the comprehensive design, development, and calibration process of MIRI, including its key scientific functions and thermal cooling system, for the first time.

Findings

Successful delivery of calibrated Flight Model to NASA in 2012

Verification of key interface requirements post-delivery

Confirmation of instrument performance in line with design specifications

Abstract

The Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) provides measurements over the wavelength range 5 to 28.5 microns. MIRI has, within a single 'package', four key scientific functions: photometric imaging, coronagraphy, single-source low-spectral resolving power (R ~ 100) spectroscopy, and medium-resolving power (R ~ 1500 to 3500) integral field spectroscopy. An associated cooler system maintains MIRI at its operating temperature of < 6.7 K. This paper describes the driving principles behind the design of MIRI, the primary design parameters, and their realization in terms of the 'as-built' instrument. It also describes the test program that led to delivery of the tested and calibrated Flight Model to NASA in 2012, and the confirmation after delivery of the key interface requirements.