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The Thirty-Meter Telescope: Science and Instrumentation for a Next-Generation Observatory

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Abstract

The Thirty-Meter Telescope international observatory will enable transformational observations over the full cosmic timeline all the way from the first luminous objects in the Universe to the planets and moons of our own solar system. To realize its full scientific potential, TMT will be equipped with a powerful suite of adaptive optics systems and science instruments. Three science instruments will be available at first light: an optical multi-object spectrometer, a near-infrared multi-slit spectrometer and a diffraction-limited near-infrared imager and integral field spectrometer. In addition to these three instruments, a diverse set of new instruments under study will bring additional workhorse capabilities to serve the science interests of a broad user community. The development of TMT instruments represents a large, long-term program that offers a wide range of opportunities to all TMT partners.

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Acknowledgements

The TMT instrument program is the collective work of numerous people at institutes around the world. Their enthusiasm and hard work drive TMT’s progress towards designing and building cutting-edge, first-light and future instruments that will allow TMT to fully realize its exciting scientific potential.

The TMT Project gratefully acknowledges the support of the TMT collaborating institutions. They are the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy (ACURA), the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the National Astronomical Observatories of China and their consortium partners, and the Department of Science and Technology of India and their supported institutes. This work was supported as well by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, the National Research Council of Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation.

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  1. TMT Observatory Corporation, 1111 South Arroyo Parkway, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA, 91105, USA

    Luc Simard

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  1. Luc Simard
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Correspondence to Luc Simard.

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Simard, L. The Thirty-Meter Telescope: Science and Instrumentation for a Next-Generation Observatory. J Astrophys Astron 34, 97–120 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-013-9177-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-013-9177-5

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