From TIGER to WST: scientific impact of four decades of developments in integral field spectroscopy

TL;DR

This paper reviews four decades of developments in integral field spectroscopy, highlighting technological milestones, scientific impacts, and future prospects across three generations of instruments.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive historical overview and personal insights into the evolution and future of integral field spectroscopy over 37 years.

Findings

Development of three generations of IFS instruments

Significant scientific impacts achieved with IFS

Future prospects with the WST project

Abstract

This paper traces the 37 years of my career dedicated to the development of integral field spectroscopy (IFS), highlighting significant milestones and advancements. This extensive journey encompasses three generations of IFS: the initial prototype TIGER at CFHT, the first generation including OASIS at CFHT and SAURON at WHT, the second generation with MUSE at VLT, and the potential third generation represented by the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (WST) project. Throughout, I discuss the lessons learned at each stage and provide my perspective on the future of IFS.