We present an overview of SITELLE, an Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (iFTS) available at the 3.6-meter Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. SITELLE is a Michelson-type interferometer able to reconstruct the spectrum of every light source within its 11 field of view in filter-selected bands of the visible (350 to 900 nm). The spectral resolution can be adjusted up to R = 10 000 and the spatial resolution is seeinglimited and sampled at 0.32 per pixel. We describe the design of the instrument as well as the data reduction and analysis process. To illustrate SITELLE's capabilities, we present some of the data obtained during and since the August 2015 commissioning run. In particular, we demonstrate its ability to separate the components of the [OII] λλ 3726,29 doublet in Orion and to reach R = 9500 around Hα; to detect diffuse emission at a level of 4 × 10 −17 erg cm −2 s −1 arcsec −2 ; to obtain integrated spectra of stellar absorption lines in galaxies despite the well-known multiplex disadvantage of the iFTS; and to detect emission-line galaxies at different redshifts.
We present an overview of the past and current development of the Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (IFTS) concept for ground telescopes produced in collaboration between ABB Bomem and Université Laval. This instrument intends to produce spectra of variable resolutions up to R = l/Dl = 10 000 from the near UV to the near IR (350 nm to 900 nm). It is designed to fit the f/8 focus of the Mont Mégantic 1.6m optical telescope in Québec. The large number of spatial elements (> 1 million pixels) is the novel aspect of this FTS design along with innovative metrology system. Heritage from Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) IFTS concept, The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)-ABB Bomem instrument and commercial ABB Bomem DA series FTS are reviewed. Techniques for accurately servoing the moving mirror alignment to a value smaller than 0.1 arc second and position to sub nanometer value are discussed. Also presented are results from the assembled interferometer sub-system.
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