Weighing Exo-Atmospheres: A novel mid-resolution spectral mode for SCALES

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel spectral mode for the SCALES instrument that combines an image slicer with a lenslet array, significantly enhancing spectral resolution for exoplanet atmosphere characterization.

Contribution

The paper presents the design and implementation of a new 'slenslit' mode that increases spectral resolution by over an order of magnitude in the SCALES instrument.

Findings

Successful design and integration of the slenslit mode.

Enhanced spectral resolution enabling detailed atmospheric analysis.

Potential for improved exoplanet characterization.

Abstract

SCALES (Slicer Combined with an Array of Lenslets for Exoplanet Spectroscopy) is a 2 to 5 micron high-contrast lenslet-based Integral Field Spectrograph (IFS) designed to characterize exoplanets and their atmospheres. Like other lenslet-based IFSs, SCALES produces a short micro-spectrum of each lenslet's micro-pupil. We have developed an image slicer that sits behind the lenslet array and dissects and rearranges a subset of micro-pupils into a pseudo-slit. The combination lenslet array and slicer (or slenslit) allows SCALES to produce much longer spectra, thereby increasing the spectra resolution by over an order of magnitude and allowing for comparisons to atmospheric modeling at unprecedented resolution. This proceeding describes the design and performance of the slenslit.