Optimal scheduling and science delivery of spectra for millions of targets in thousands of fields: the operational concept of the Maunakea spectroscopic explorer (MSE)

Abstract

The Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer (MSE) will each year obtain millions of spectra in the optical to nearinfrared, at low (R 3000) to high (R 40000) spectral resolution by observing >3000 spectra per pointing via a highly multiplexed fiber-fed system. Key science programs for MSE include black hole reverberation mapping, stellar population analysis of faint galaxies at high redshift, and sub-km/s velocity accuracy for stellar astrophysics.The architecture of MSE is an assembly of subsystems designed to meet the science requirements and describes what MSE will look like. In this paper we focus on the operations concept of MSE, which describes how to operate a fiber fed, highly multiplexed, dedicated observatory given its architecture and the science requirements.The operations concept details the phases of operations, from selecting proposals within the science community to distributing back millions of spectra to this community. For each phase, the operations concept describes the tools required to support the science community in their analyses and the operations staff in their work. It also highlights the specific needs related to the complexity of MSE with millions of targets to observe, thousands of fibers to position, and different spectral resolution to use. Finally, the operations concept shows how the science requirements on calibration and observing efficiency can be met. is presented this year in Ref. 4 with a review of the instrumentation suite in Ref. 5. Other papers related to MSE are focusing on: the summit facility upgrade (Ref. 6, 7), the telescope optical design for MSE (Ref. 8), the telescope structure design (Ref. 9), the design for the high-resolution (Ref. 10, 11) and the low/moderateresolution spectrograph (Ref. 12), the top end assembly (Ref. 13, 14), the fiber bundle system (Ref. 15, 16), the Sphinx fiber positioner system (Ref. 17), the systems budgets architecture and development (Ref. 18, 19), the observatory software (Ref. 20), the spectral calibration (Ref. 21, 22), the throughput optimization (Ref. 23, 24), the injection efficiency (Ref. 25), and the observing efficiency (Ref. 26).MSE will be a facility dedicated to spectroscopic surveys. Multiple surveys will be executed in parallel to make the best use of the observatory capabilities, with both LMR and HR spectrographs simultaneously available at all time and sharing the telescope's field of view. While the surveys are envisioned to be multi-year large programs (LP), we expect that some observing time might be allocated to small programs (SP) that will likely be more focused, require smaller amounts of telescope time or number of fibers, and typically lead to more rapid publications. Even though MSE will be a significantly different facility than CFHT, the operations of MSE will benefit from CFHT's experience in queue service observations and from the transition that has already happened at CFHT with an increased importance of LPs and survey oriented operations.In this paper we focus on the operations concept of MSE: how MSE will ...

Maunakea spectroscopic explorer advancing from conceptual design

“…With respect to our work plan which was presented at the last SPIE conference in 2016, we have made substantial progress: The international design team has completed the enclosure and telescope structure conceptual designs, selected a multiplexing configuration, developed the LMR and HR [16,17] spectrograph designs, and established a fibre testing facility [18] to characterize the fibre transmission system performance. In conjunction, the PO has established the science calibration methodology [19] , system budgets [20] , and observatory operations concept [21,22] . Together, the CoDP work culminated in a successful System level conceptual design review in January 2018.…”

Maximising the sensitivity of next generation multi-object spectroscopy: system budget development and design optimizations for the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer

“…25), and the overall operations of the facility (Ref. 26). Section 2 describes the science requirements on the system sensitivity for MSE.…”