White Paper on MAAT@GTC

TL;DR

MAAT@GTC is an optical system designed for the OSIRIS spectrograph on the GTC, enabling integral field spectroscopy with enhanced resolution and broad spectral coverage to study cosmic phenomena.

Contribution

This white paper introduces MAAT@GTC, a new optical system that significantly improves OSIRIS's capabilities for integral field spectroscopy on the GTC.

Findings

Enables IFS over a 14.20''x10'' FoV with 0.303'' slices.

Increases resolution power by 1.6 times compared to existing long-slit.

Provides broad spectral coverage from 3600 to 10000 Å with R=600 to 4100.

Abstract

MAAT is proposed as a visitor mirror-slicer optical system that will allow the OSIRIS spectrograph on the 10.4-m Gran telescopio CANARIAS (GTC) the capability to perform Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) over a seeing-limited FoV 14.20''x10'' with a slice width of 0.303''. MAAT@GTC will enhance the resolution power of OSIRIS by 1.6 times as compared to its 0.6'' wide long-slit. All the eleven OSIRIS grisms and volume-phase holographic gratings will be available to provide broad spectral coverage with moderate resolution (R=600 up to 4100) in the 3600 - 10000 {\AA} wavelength range. MAAT unique observing capabilities will broaden its use to the needs of the GTC community to unveil the nature of most striking phenomena in the universe well beyond time-domain astronomy. The GTC equipped with OSIRIS+MAAT will also play a fundamental role in synergy with other facilities, some of them operating on the northern ORM at La Palma. This White Paper presents the different aspects of MAAT@GTC - including scientific and technical specifications, outstanding science cases, and an outline of the instrument concept.