TIFR Treasures for Astronomy from Ground to Space

TL;DR

This paper reviews the development of infrared astronomical instrumentation by TIFR, highlighting ground-based, balloon-borne, and satellite payloads for advancing infrared astronomy in India.

Contribution

It presents the evolution of infrared detectors and instrumentation, including the development of a spectroscopic payload for a satellite mission, showcasing India's capabilities in infrared astronomy.

Findings

Successful deployment of infrared detectors at observatories

Development of a laboratory model for satellite spectroscopic payload

Integration of ground, balloon, and space-based infrared astronomy tools

Abstract

The infrared astronomy group of Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research has been pursuing astronomical instrumentation activities since its inception. The group has been routinely involved in balloon-borne astronomy programs from the field station at Hyderabad with indigenously developed payloads. Ground-based astronomical activities began with a single element infrared detector. Later, over time, larger format array detectors are being used in the cameras. These astronomy cameras have been routinely used at observatories across India. Recently, the group has also developed a laboratory model of the Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging Survey payload, targeted for the small satellite mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation, which will carry out spectroscopic measurements in the wavelength range 1.7 to 6.4 $\mu$m seamlessly