arXiv subjects

Andrea Tozzi

Publications and source records attributed to Andrea Tozzi.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

WST, the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope: dispersing elements

The Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (WST) is a proposed 12-m class facility entirely dedicated to spectroscopic surveys, combining a high-multiplex multi-object spectrograph operating at low (MOS-LR) and high (MOS-HR) spectral resolution with a giant panoramic integral-field spectrograph (IFS), all three operating in parallel. Diffraction gratings are the key dispersing elements of all three instruments and, given the very large number and size of the units required, drive critical trade-offs in throughput, feasibility and production cost. This paper reviews the two grating technologies under consideration for WST, Volume Phase Holographic Gratings (VPHG) and binary (lithographic, surface-relief) gratings, summarizing their working principles and the parameters that control their diffraction efficiency. We then present the current baseline grating parameters and vendor results for each instrument: low-dispersion, VPHGs for the IFS; a four-arm GRISM layout for MOS-LR; and two competing high-resolution disperser architectures (8M16D and 16M4D) for MOS-HR, where binary gratings show a promising path to diffraction efficiencies beyond what is achievable with VPHGs. We conclude with the main open challenges, chiefly the mass production of hundreds of grating units within cost and schedule and the next steps foreseen to consolidate the disperser baseline for WST.

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arXiv2026

Current status of the High-Resolution Multi-Object Spectrograph (MOS-HR) for the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope

The Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (WST) is a planned 12-meter class dedicated spectroscopic facility for massive spectroscopic surveys. This paper presents the current status of Work Package 4.5, the High Resolution Multi-Object Spectrograph (HR-MOS) module. We describe the international team organization and optical design resulting from extensive trade-off studies, presenting its evolution driven by scientific requirements and technical constraints. Design parameters derived from science cases and astronomical community requirements are detailed. Given the critical importance of mass and volume budgets, we present envelope dimensions and mass estimates for HR-MOS. The spectrograph constructive parameters are defined, including optical fiber specifications, multiplex capability, and modular architecture. Finally, we present the structural analysis addressing mechanical stability and performance requirements for this high-resolution multi-object spectrograph.

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arXiv2026

WST, the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope: Mechanical Design and FE Analyses for the High Resolution Spectrograph

The Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (WST) is a planned 12-meter-class dedicated spectroscopic facility designed to address key scientific challenges through large spectroscopic surveys. This paper presents the current status of Work Package 4.5, which focuses on the High-Resolution Multi-Object Spectrograph (MOS-HR) module for WST. The MOSHR instrument is expected to provide a resolving power of R = 40,000 with a multiplexing capability of about 2,000 targets. The mechanical design activities carried out for the development of the HR spectrograph and for the definition of its optomechanical architecture are described. To account for both the scientific requirements of the spectrograph and the manufacturability constraints associated with such a complex instrument, the mechanical layout has been organized into four larger modules, each containing two sub-modules. Guided by feasibility considerations, such as mechanical performance, available volume, and fabrication and assembly aspects, each sub-module adopts a vertical optical bench configuration with optical elements mounted on both sides. Starting from the baseline optical design, the mechanical configuration has been developed to achieve the required alignment accuracy, structural stability, and environmental robustness. The workflow includes the translation of the optical prescription into a complete mechanical model, the definition of the main mounting and alignment interfaces, and preliminary static, modal, and seismic analyses to evaluate performance under operational and survival loads. As an outcome, the proposed design provides architecture that enables preliminary estimates of mass, volume, cost, and mechanical performance in terms of deformation, stress, and modal behavior of the modules.

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arXiv2026

WST, the wide-field spectroscopic telescope: progress on the design of the instruments

WST, the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope is a proposed new facility that will provide a transformational gain in spectroscopic survey capability over existing facilities. The WST is a 12 metre class telescope equipped with instrumentation to provide simultaneous observations in both multiple-object spectroscopy and integral field spectroscopy modes. This paper will describe the status of the instruments being designed for the WST, the fibre positioner module, the low and high-resolution multiple object spectrographs, the integral field spectrograph, disperser technology, sustainable detector and cryostat technology, and the calibration system. An overview of the overall layout of the instruments within the WST facility will be provided.

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arXiv2024

WST -- Widefield Spectroscopic Telescope: addressing the instrumentation challenges of a new 12m class telescope dedicated to widefield Multi-object and Integral Field Spectroscopy

WST - Widefield Spectroscopic Telescope: We summarise the design challenges of instrumentation for a proposed 12m class Telescope that aims to provide a large (>2.5 square degree) field of view and enable simultaneous Multi-object (> 20,000 objects) and Integral Field spectroscopy (inner 3x3 arcminutes field of view), initially at visible wavelengths. For the MOS mode, instrumentation includes the fiber positioning units, fiber runs and the high (R~40,000) and low (R~3,000 - 4,000) resolution spectrographs. For the MUSE like Integral Field Spectrograph, this includes the relay from the Telescope Focal Plane, the multi-stage splitting and slicing and almost 150 identical spectrographs. We highlight the challenge of mass production at a credible cost and the issues of maintenance and sustainable operation.

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arXiv2023

HRMOS White Paper: Science Motivation

The High-Resolution Multi-Object Spectrograph (HRMOS) is a facility instrument that we plan to propose for the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), following the initial presentation at the VLT 2030 workshop held at ESO in June 2019. HRMOS provides a combination of capabilities that are essential to carry out breakthrough science across a broad range of active research areas from stellar astrophysics and exoplanet studies to Galactic and Local Group archaeology. HRMOS fills a gap in capabilities amongst the landscape of future instrumentation planned for the next decade. The key characteristics of HRMOS will be high spectral resolution (R = 60000 - 80000) combined with multi-object (20-100) capabilities and long term stability that will provide excellent radial velocity precision and accuracy (10m/s). Initial designs predict that a SNR~100 will be achievable in about one hour for a star with mag(AB) = 15, while with the same exposure time a SNR~ 30 will be reached for a star with mag(AB) = 17. The combination of high resolution and multiplexing with wavelength coverage extending to relatively blue wavelengths (down to 380\,nm), makes HRMOS a spectrograph that will push the boundaries of our knowledge and that is envisioned as a workhorse instrument in the future. The science cases presented in this White Paper include topics and ideas developed by the Core Science Team with the contributions from the astronomical community, also through the wide participation in the first HRMOS Workshop (https://indico.ict.inaf.it/event/1547/) that took place in Firenze (Italy) in October 2021.

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arXiv2021

Five carbon- and nitrogen-bearing species in a hot giant planet's atmosphere

The atmospheres of gaseous giant exoplanets orbiting close to their parent stars (hot Jupiters) have been probed for nearly two decades. They allow us to investigate the chemical and physical properties of planetary atmospheres under extreme irradiation conditions. Previous observations of hot Jupiters as they transit in front of their host stars have revealed the frequent presence of water vapour and carbon monoxide in their atmospheres; this has been studied in terms of scaled solar composition under the usual assumption of chemical equilibrium. Both molecules as well as hydrogen cyanide were found in the atmosphere of HD 209458b, a well studied hot Jupiter (with equilibrium temperature around 1,500 kelvin), whereas ammonia was tentatively detected there and subsequently refuted. Here we report observations of HD 209458b that indicate the presence of water (H2O), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3) and acetylene (C2H2), with statistical significance of 5.3 to 9.9 standard deviations per molecule. Atmospheric models in radiative and chemical equilibrium that account for the detected species indicate a carbon-rich chemistry with a carbon-to-oxygen ratio close to or greater than 1, higher than the solar value (0.55). According to existing models relating the atmospheric chemistry to planet formation and migration scenarios, this would suggest that HD 209458b formed far from its present location and subsequently migrated inwards. Other hot Jupiters may also show a richer chemistry than has been previously found, which would bring into question the frequently made assumption that they have solar-like and oxygen-rich compositions.

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arXiv2020

HIRES, the high-resolution spectrograph for the ELT

HIRES will be the high-resolution spectrograph of the European Extremely Large Telescope at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. It consists of three fibre-fed spectrographs providing a wavelength coverage of 0.4-1.8 mic (goal 0.35-1.8 mic) at a spectral resolution of ~100,000. The fibre-feeding allows HIRES to have several, interchangeable observing modes including a SCAO module and a small diffraction-limited IFU in the NIR. Therefore, it will be able to operate both in seeing and diffraction-limited modes. ELT-HIRES has a wide range of science cases spanning nearly all areas of research in astrophysics and even fundamental physics. Some of the top science cases will be the detection of bio signatures from exoplanet atmospheres, finding the fingerprints of the first generation of stars (PopIII), tests on the stability of Nature's fundamental couplings, and the direct detection of the cosmic acceleration. The HIRES consortium is composed of more than 30 institutes from 14 countries, forming a team of more than 200 scientists and engineers.

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arXiv2016

GIARPS: the unique VIS-NIR high precision radial velocity facility in this world

GIARPS (GIAno & haRPS) is a project devoted to have on the same focal station of the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) both the high resolution spectrographs HARPS-N (VIS) and GIANO (NIR) working simultaneously. This could be considered the first and unique worldwide instrument providing cross-dispersed echelle spectroscopy at a high resolution (R=115,000 in the visual and R=50,000 in the IR) and over in a wide spectral range (0.383 - 2.45 micron) in a single exposure. The science case is very broad, given the versatility of such an instrument and the large wavelength range. A number of outstanding science cases encompassing mainly extra-solar planet science starting from rocky planet search and hot Jupiters, atmosphere characterization can be considered. Furthermore both instrument can measure high precision radial velocity by means the simultaneous thorium technique (HARPS - N) and absorbing cell technique (GIANO) in a single exposure. Other science cases are also possible. Young stars and proto-planetary disks, cool stars and stellar populations, moving minor bodies in the solar system, bursting young stellar objects, cataclysmic variables and X-ray binary transients in our Galaxy, supernovae up to gamma-ray bursts in the very distant and young Universe, can take advantage of the unicity of this facility both in terms of contemporaneous wide wavelength range and high resolution spectroscopy.

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