The Herschel-SPIRE instrument and its in-flight performance

M.J. Griffin; A. Abergel; A. Abreu; P.A.R. Ade; P. André; J.-L. Augueres; T. Babbedge; Y. Bae; T. Baillie; J.-P. Baluteau; M.J. Barlow; G. Bendo; D. Benielli; J. Bock; P. Bonhomme; D. Brisbin; C. Brockley-Blatt; M. Caldwell; C. Cara; N. Castro-Rodriguez; R. Cerulli; P. Chanial; S. Chen; E. Clark; D. L. Clements; L. Clerc; J. Coker; D. Communal; L. Conversi; P. Cox; D. Crumb; C. Cunningham; F. Daly; G. R. Davis; P. de Antoni; J. Delderfield; N. Devin; A. di Giorgio; I. Didschuns; K. Dohlen; M. Donati; A. Dowell; C.D. Dowell; L. Duband; L. Dumaye; R. J. Emery; M. Ferlet; D. Ferrand; J. Fontignie; M. Fox; A. Franceschini; M. Frerking; T. Fulton; J. Garcia; R. Gastaud; W.K. Gear; J. Glenn; A. Goizel; D.K. Griffin; T. Grundy; S. Guest; L. Guillemet; P. C. Hargrave; M. Harwit; P. Hastings; E. Hatziminaoglou; M. Herman; B. Hinde; V. Hristov; M. Huang; P. Imhof; K.J. Isaak; U. Israelsson; R.J. Ivison; D. Jennings; B. Kiernan; K.J. King; A. E. Lange; W. Latter; G. Laurent; P. Laurent; S. J. Leeks; E. Lellouch; L. Levenson; B. Li; J. Li; J. Lilienthal; T. Lim; S. J. Liu; N. Lu; S. Madden; G. Mainetti; P. Marliani; D. McKay; K. Mercier; S. Molinari; H. Morris; H. Moseley; J. Mulder; M. Mur; D.A. Naylor; H. Nguyen; B. O'Halloran; S. Oliver; G. Olofsson; H.-G. Olofsson; R. Orfei; M.J. Page; I. Pain; P. Panuzzo; A. Papageorgiou; G. Parks; P. Parr-Burman; A. Pearce; C. Pearson; I. Pérez-Fournon; F. Pinsard; G. Pisano; J. Podosek; M. Pohlen; E.T. Polehampton; D. Pouliquen; D. Rigopoulou; D. Rizzo; I.G. Roseboom; H. Roussel; M. Rowan-Robinson; B. Rownd; P. Saraceno; M. Sauvage; R. Savage; G. Savini; E. Sawyer; C. Scharmberg; D. Schmitt; N. Schneider; B. Schulz; A. Schwartz; R. Shafer; D. L. Shupe; B. Sibthorpe; S. Sidher; A. Smith; A. J. Smith; Daniel Smith; L. Spencer; B. Stobie; R. Sudiwala; K. Sukhatme; C. Surace; Jason Stevens; B. M. Swinyard; M. Trichas; T. Tourette; H. Triou; S. Tseng; C. Tucker; A. Turner; M. Vaccari; I. Valtchanov; L. Vigroux; E. Virique; G. Voellmer; H. Walker; R. Ward; T. Waskett; M. Weilert; R. Wesson; G.J. White; N. Whitehouse; C.D. Wilson; B. Winter; A. L. Woodcraft; G. S. Wright; C.K. Xu; A. Zavagno; M. Zemcov; L. Zhang; E. Zonca

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201014519

The Herschel-SPIRE instrument and its in-flight performance

M.J. Griffin, A. Abergel, A. Abreu, P.A.R. Ade, P. André, J.-L. Augueres, T. Babbedge, Y. Bae, T. Baillie, J.-P. Baluteau, M.J. Barlow, G. Bendo, D. Benielli, J. Bock, P. Bonhomme, D. Brisbin, C. Brockley-Blatt, M. Caldwell, C. Cara, N. Castro-RodriguezR. Cerulli, P. Chanial, S. Chen, E. Clark, D. L. Clements, L. Clerc, J. Coker, D. Communal, L. Conversi, P. Cox, D. Crumb, C. Cunningham, F. Daly, G. R. Davis, P. de Antoni, J. Delderfield, N. Devin, A. di Giorgio, I. Didschuns, K. Dohlen, M. Donati, A. Dowell, C.D. Dowell, L. Duband, L. Dumaye, R. J. Emery, M. Ferlet, D. Ferrand, J. Fontignie, M. Fox, A. Franceschini, M. Frerking, T. Fulton, J. Garcia, R. Gastaud, W.K. Gear, J. Glenn, A. Goizel, D.K. Griffin, T. Grundy, S. Guest, L. Guillemet, P. C. Hargrave, M. Harwit, P. Hastings, E. Hatziminaoglou, M. Herman, B. Hinde, V. Hristov, M. Huang, P. Imhof, K.J. Isaak, U. Israelsson, R.J. Ivison, D. Jennings, B. Kiernan, K.J. King, A. E. Lange, W. Latter, G. Laurent, P. Laurent, S. J. Leeks, E. Lellouch, L. Levenson, B. Li, J. Li, J. Lilienthal, T. Lim, S. J. Liu, N. Lu, S. Madden, G. Mainetti, P. Marliani, D. McKay, K. Mercier, S. Molinari, H. Morris, H. Moseley, J. Mulder, M. Mur, D.A. Naylor, H. Nguyen, B. O'Halloran, S. Oliver, G. Olofsson, H.-G. Olofsson, R. Orfei, M.J. Page, I. Pain, P. Panuzzo, A. Papageorgiou, G. Parks, P. Parr-Burman, A. Pearce, C. Pearson, I. Pérez-Fournon, F. Pinsard, G. Pisano, J. Podosek, M. Pohlen, E.T. Polehampton, D. Pouliquen, D. Rigopoulou, D. Rizzo, I.G. Roseboom, H. Roussel, M. Rowan-Robinson, B. Rownd, P. Saraceno, M. Sauvage, R. Savage, G. Savini, E. Sawyer, C. Scharmberg, D. Schmitt, N. Schneider, B. Schulz, A. Schwartz, R. Shafer, D. L. Shupe, B. Sibthorpe, S. Sidher, A. Smith, A. J. Smith, Daniel Smith, L. Spencer, B. Stobie, R. Sudiwala, K. Sukhatme, C. Surace, Jason Stevens, B. M. Swinyard, M. Trichas, T. Tourette, H. Triou, S. Tseng, C. Tucker, A. Turner, M. Vaccari, I. Valtchanov, L. Vigroux, E. Virique, G. Voellmer, H. Walker, R. Ward, T. Waskett, M. Weilert, R. Wesson, G.J. White, N. Whitehouse, C.D. Wilson, B. Winter, A. L. Woodcraft, G. S. Wright, C.K. Xu, A. Zavagno, M. Zemcov, L. Zhang, E. Zonca

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Abstract

The Spectral and Photometric Imaging REceiver (SPIRE), is the Herschel Space Observatory`s submillimetre camera and spectrometer. It contains a three-band imaging photometer operating at 250, 350 and 500 μm, and an imaging Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) which covers simultaneously its whole operating range of 194–671 μm (447–1550 GHz). The SPIRE detectors are arrays of feedhorn-coupled bolometers cooled to 0.3 K. The photometer has a field of view of 4´× 8´, observed simultaneously in the three spectral bands. Its main operating mode is scan-mapping, whereby the field of view is scanned across the sky to achieve full spatial sampling and to cover large areas if desired. The spectrometer has an approximately circular field of view with a diameter of 2.6´. The spectral resolution can be adjusted between 1.2 and 25 GHz by changing the stroke length of the FTS scan mirror. Its main operating mode involves a fixed telescope pointing with multiple scans of the FTS mirror to acquire spectral data. For extended source measurements, multiple position offsets are implemented by means of an internal beam steering mirror to achieve the desired spatial sampling and by rastering of the telescope pointing to map areas larger than the field of view. The SPIRE instrument consists of a cold focal plane unit located inside the Herschel cryostat and warm electronics units, located on the spacecraft Service Module, for instrument control and data handling. Science data are transmitted to Earth with no on-board data compression, and processed by automatic pipelines to produce calibrated science products. The in-flight performance of the instrument matches or exceeds predictions based on pre-launch testing and modelling: the photometer sensitivity is comparable to or slightly better than estimated pre-launch, and the spectrometer sensitivity is also better by a factor of 1.5–2.

Original language	English
Article number	L3
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	518
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201014519
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2010

Keywords

instrumentation: photometers, instrumentation: spectrographs, space vehicles: instruments, submillimeter: general

Access to Document

10.1051/0004-6361/201014519

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Accepted author manuscript, 3.15 MB

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Griffin, M. J., Abergel, A., Abreu, A., Ade, P. A. R., André, P., Augueres, J.-L., Babbedge, T., Bae, Y., Baillie, T., Baluteau, J.-P., Barlow, M. J., Bendo, G., Benielli, D., Bock, J., Bonhomme, P., Brisbin, D., Brockley-Blatt, C., Caldwell, M., Cara, C., ... Zonca, E. (2010). The Herschel-SPIRE instrument and its in-flight performance. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 518, Article L3. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201014519

@article{2312da092586404f9dbe706c81549b9d,

title = "The Herschel-SPIRE instrument and its in-flight performance",

abstract = "The Spectral and Photometric Imaging REceiver (SPIRE), is the Herschel Space Observatory`s submillimetre camera and spectrometer. It contains a three-band imaging photometer operating at 250, 350 and 500 μm, and an imaging Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) which covers simultaneously its whole operating range of 194–671 μm (447–1550 GHz). The SPIRE detectors are arrays of feedhorn-coupled bolometers cooled to 0.3 K. The photometer has a field of view of 4´× 8´, observed simultaneously in the three spectral bands. Its main operating mode is scan-mapping, whereby the field of view is scanned across the sky to achieve full spatial sampling and to cover large areas if desired. The spectrometer has an approximately circular field of view with a diameter of 2.6´. The spectral resolution can be adjusted between 1.2 and 25 GHz by changing the stroke length of the FTS scan mirror. Its main operating mode involves a fixed telescope pointing with multiple scans of the FTS mirror to acquire spectral data. For extended source measurements, multiple position offsets are implemented by means of an internal beam steering mirror to achieve the desired spatial sampling and by rastering of the telescope pointing to map areas larger than the field of view. The SPIRE instrument consists of a cold focal plane unit located inside the Herschel cryostat and warm electronics units, located on the spacecraft Service Module, for instrument control and data handling. Science data are transmitted to Earth with no on-board data compression, and processed by automatic pipelines to produce calibrated science products. The in-flight performance of the instrument matches or exceeds predictions based on pre-launch testing and modelling: the photometer sensitivity is comparable to or slightly better than estimated pre-launch, and the spectrometer sensitivity is also better by a factor of 1.5–2. ",

keywords = "instrumentation: photometers, instrumentation: spectrographs, space vehicles: instruments, submillimeter: general",

author = "M.J. Griffin and A. Abergel and A. Abreu and P.A.R. Ade and P. Andr{\'e} and J.-L. Augueres and T. Babbedge and Y. Bae and T. Baillie and J.-P. Baluteau and M.J. Barlow and G. Bendo and D. Benielli and J. Bock and P. Bonhomme and D. Brisbin and C. Brockley-Blatt and M. Caldwell and C. Cara and N. Castro-Rodriguez and R. Cerulli and P. Chanial and S. Chen and E. Clark and Clements, {D. L.} and L. Clerc and J. Coker and D. Communal and L. Conversi and P. Cox and D. Crumb and C. Cunningham and F. Daly and Davis, {G. R.} and {de Antoni}, P. and J. Delderfield and N. Devin and {di Giorgio}, A. and I. Didschuns and K. Dohlen and M. Donati and A. Dowell and C.D. Dowell and L. Duband and L. Dumaye and Emery, {R. J.} and M. Ferlet and D. Ferrand and J. Fontignie and M. Fox and A. Franceschini and M. Frerking and T. Fulton and J. Garcia and R. Gastaud and W.K. Gear and J. Glenn and A. Goizel and D.K. Griffin and T. Grundy and S. Guest and L. Guillemet and Hargrave, {P. C.} and M. Harwit and P. Hastings and E. Hatziminaoglou and M. Herman and B. Hinde and V. Hristov and M. Huang and P. Imhof and K.J. Isaak and U. Israelsson and R.J. Ivison and D. Jennings and B. Kiernan and K.J. King and Lange, {A. E.} and W. Latter and G. Laurent and P. Laurent and Leeks, {S. J.} and E. Lellouch and L. Levenson and B. Li and J. Li and J. Lilienthal and T. Lim and Liu, {S. J.} and N. Lu and S. Madden and G. Mainetti and P. Marliani and D. McKay and K. Mercier and S. Molinari and H. Morris and H. Moseley and J. Mulder and M. Mur and D.A. Naylor and H. Nguyen and B. O'Halloran and S. Oliver and G. Olofsson and H.-G. Olofsson and R. Orfei and M.J. Page and I. Pain and P. Panuzzo and A. Papageorgiou and G. Parks and P. Parr-Burman and A. Pearce and C. Pearson and I. P{\'e}rez-Fournon and F. Pinsard and G. Pisano and J. Podosek and M. Pohlen and E.T. Polehampton and D. Pouliquen and D. Rigopoulou and D. Rizzo and I.G. Roseboom and H. Roussel and M. Rowan-Robinson and B. Rownd and P. Saraceno and M. Sauvage and R. Savage and G. Savini and E. Sawyer and C. Scharmberg and D. Schmitt and N. Schneider and B. Schulz and A. Schwartz and R. Shafer and Shupe, {D. L.} and B. Sibthorpe and S. Sidher and A. Smith and Smith, {A. J.} and Daniel Smith and L. Spencer and B. Stobie and R. Sudiwala and K. Sukhatme and C. Surace and Jason Stevens and Swinyard, {B. M.} and M. Trichas and T. Tourette and H. Triou and S. Tseng and C. Tucker and A. Turner and M. Vaccari and I. Valtchanov and L. Vigroux and E. Virique and G. Voellmer and H. Walker and R. Ward and T. Waskett and M. Weilert and R. Wesson and G.J. White and N. Whitehouse and C.D. Wilson and B. Winter and Woodcraft, {A. L.} and Wright, {G. S.} and C.K. Xu and A. Zavagno and M. Zemcov and L. Zhang and E. Zonca",

year = "2010",

month = jul,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201014519",

language = "English",

volume = "518",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

Griffin, MJ, Abergel, A, Abreu, A, Ade, PAR, André, P, Augueres, J-L, Babbedge, T, Bae, Y, Baillie, T, Baluteau, J-P, Barlow, MJ, Bendo, G, Benielli, D, Bock, J, Bonhomme, P, Brisbin, D, Brockley-Blatt, C, Caldwell, M, Cara, C, Castro-Rodriguez, N, Cerulli, R, Chanial, P, Chen, S, Clark, E, Clements, DL, Clerc, L, Coker, J, Communal, D, Conversi, L, Cox, P, Crumb, D, Cunningham, C, Daly, F, Davis, GR, de Antoni, P, Delderfield, J, Devin, N, di Giorgio, A, Didschuns, I, Dohlen, K, Donati, M, Dowell, A, Dowell, CD, Duband, L, Dumaye, L, Emery, RJ, Ferlet, M, Ferrand, D, Fontignie, J, Fox, M, Franceschini, A, Frerking, M, Fulton, T, Garcia, J, Gastaud, R, Gear, WK, Glenn, J, Goizel, A, Griffin, DK, Grundy, T, Guest, S, Guillemet, L, Hargrave, PC, Harwit, M, Hastings, P, Hatziminaoglou, E, Herman, M, Hinde, B, Hristov, V, Huang, M, Imhof, P, Isaak, KJ, Israelsson, U, Ivison, RJ, Jennings, D, Kiernan, B, King, KJ, Lange, AE, Latter, W, Laurent, G, Laurent, P, Leeks, SJ, Lellouch, E, Levenson, L, Li, B, Li, J, Lilienthal, J, Lim, T, Liu, SJ, Lu, N, Madden, S, Mainetti, G, Marliani, P, McKay, D, Mercier, K, Molinari, S, Morris, H, Moseley, H, Mulder, J, Mur, M, Naylor, DA, Nguyen, H, O'Halloran, B, Oliver, S, Olofsson, G, Olofsson, H-G, Orfei, R, Page, MJ, Pain, I, Panuzzo, P, Papageorgiou, A, Parks, G, Parr-Burman, P, Pearce, A, Pearson, C, Pérez-Fournon, I, Pinsard, F, Pisano, G, Podosek, J, Pohlen, M, Polehampton, ET, Pouliquen, D, Rigopoulou, D, Rizzo, D, Roseboom, IG, Roussel, H, Rowan-Robinson, M, Rownd, B, Saraceno, P, Sauvage, M, Savage, R, Savini, G, Sawyer, E, Scharmberg, C, Schmitt, D, Schneider, N, Schulz, B, Schwartz, A, Shafer, R, Shupe, DL, Sibthorpe, B, Sidher, S, Smith, A, Smith, AJ, Smith, D, Spencer, L, Stobie, B, Sudiwala, R, Sukhatme, K, Surace, C, Stevens, J, Swinyard, BM, Trichas, M, Tourette, T, Triou, H, Tseng, S, Tucker, C, Turner, A, Vaccari, M, Valtchanov, I, Vigroux, L, Virique, E, Voellmer, G, Walker, H, Ward, R, Waskett, T, Weilert, M, Wesson, R, White, GJ, Whitehouse, N, Wilson, CD, Winter, B, Woodcraft, AL, Wright, GS, Xu, CK, Zavagno, A, Zemcov, M, Zhang, L & Zonca, E 2010, 'The Herschel-SPIRE instrument and its in-flight performance', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 518, L3. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201014519

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Herschel-SPIRE instrument and its in-flight performance

AU - Griffin, M.J.

AU - Abergel, A.

AU - Abreu, A.

AU - Ade, P.A.R.

AU - André, P.

AU - Augueres, J.-L.

AU - Babbedge, T.

AU - Bae, Y.

AU - Baillie, T.

AU - Baluteau, J.-P.

AU - Barlow, M.J.

AU - Bendo, G.

AU - Benielli, D.

AU - Bock, J.

AU - Bonhomme, P.

AU - Brisbin, D.

AU - Brockley-Blatt, C.

AU - Caldwell, M.

AU - Cara, C.

AU - Castro-Rodriguez, N.

AU - Cerulli, R.

AU - Chanial, P.

AU - Chen, S.

AU - Clark, E.

AU - Clements, D. L.

AU - Clerc, L.

AU - Coker, J.

AU - Communal, D.

AU - Conversi, L.

AU - Cox, P.

AU - Crumb, D.

AU - Cunningham, C.

AU - Daly, F.

AU - Davis, G. R.

AU - de Antoni, P.

AU - Delderfield, J.

AU - Devin, N.

AU - di Giorgio, A.

AU - Didschuns, I.

AU - Dohlen, K.

AU - Donati, M.

AU - Dowell, A.

AU - Dowell, C.D.

AU - Duband, L.

AU - Dumaye, L.

AU - Emery, R. J.

AU - Ferlet, M.

AU - Ferrand, D.

AU - Fontignie, J.

AU - Fox, M.

AU - Franceschini, A.

AU - Frerking, M.

AU - Fulton, T.

AU - Garcia, J.

AU - Gastaud, R.

AU - Gear, W.K.

AU - Glenn, J.

AU - Goizel, A.

AU - Griffin, D.K.

AU - Grundy, T.

AU - Guest, S.

AU - Guillemet, L.

AU - Hargrave, P. C.

AU - Harwit, M.

AU - Hastings, P.

AU - Hatziminaoglou, E.

AU - Herman, M.

AU - Hinde, B.

AU - Hristov, V.

AU - Huang, M.

AU - Imhof, P.

AU - Isaak, K.J.

AU - Israelsson, U.

AU - Ivison, R.J.

AU - Jennings, D.

AU - Kiernan, B.

AU - King, K.J.

AU - Lange, A. E.

AU - Latter, W.

AU - Laurent, G.

AU - Laurent, P.

AU - Leeks, S. J.

AU - Lellouch, E.

AU - Levenson, L.

AU - Li, B.

AU - Li, J.

AU - Lilienthal, J.

AU - Lim, T.

AU - Liu, S. J.

AU - Lu, N.

AU - Madden, S.

AU - Mainetti, G.

AU - Marliani, P.

AU - McKay, D.

AU - Mercier, K.

AU - Molinari, S.

AU - Morris, H.

AU - Moseley, H.

AU - Mulder, J.

AU - Mur, M.

AU - Naylor, D.A.

AU - Nguyen, H.

AU - O'Halloran, B.

AU - Oliver, S.

AU - Olofsson, G.

AU - Olofsson, H.-G.

AU - Orfei, R.

AU - Page, M.J.

AU - Pain, I.

AU - Panuzzo, P.

AU - Papageorgiou, A.

AU - Parks, G.

AU - Parr-Burman, P.

AU - Pearce, A.

AU - Pearson, C.

AU - Pérez-Fournon, I.

AU - Pinsard, F.

AU - Pisano, G.

AU - Podosek, J.

AU - Pohlen, M.

AU - Polehampton, E.T.

AU - Pouliquen, D.

AU - Rigopoulou, D.

AU - Rizzo, D.

AU - Roseboom, I.G.

AU - Roussel, H.

AU - Rowan-Robinson, M.

AU - Rownd, B.

AU - Saraceno, P.

AU - Sauvage, M.

AU - Savage, R.

AU - Savini, G.

AU - Sawyer, E.

AU - Scharmberg, C.

AU - Schmitt, D.

AU - Schneider, N.

AU - Schulz, B.

AU - Schwartz, A.

AU - Shafer, R.

AU - Shupe, D. L.

AU - Sibthorpe, B.

AU - Sidher, S.

AU - Smith, A.

AU - Smith, A. J.

AU - Smith, Daniel

AU - Spencer, L.

AU - Stobie, B.

AU - Sudiwala, R.

AU - Sukhatme, K.

AU - Surace, C.

AU - Stevens, Jason

AU - Swinyard, B. M.

AU - Trichas, M.

AU - Tourette, T.

AU - Triou, H.

AU - Tseng, S.

AU - Tucker, C.

AU - Turner, A.

AU - Vaccari, M.

AU - Valtchanov, I.

AU - Vigroux, L.

AU - Virique, E.

AU - Voellmer, G.

AU - Walker, H.

AU - Ward, R.

AU - Waskett, T.

AU - Weilert, M.

AU - Wesson, R.

AU - White, G.J.

AU - Whitehouse, N.

AU - Wilson, C.D.

AU - Winter, B.

AU - Woodcraft, A. L.

AU - Wright, G. S.

AU - Xu, C.K.

AU - Zavagno, A.

AU - Zemcov, M.

AU - Zhang, L.

AU - Zonca, E.

PY - 2010/7/1

Y1 - 2010/7/1

N2 - The Spectral and Photometric Imaging REceiver (SPIRE), is the Herschel Space Observatory`s submillimetre camera and spectrometer. It contains a three-band imaging photometer operating at 250, 350 and 500 μm, and an imaging Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) which covers simultaneously its whole operating range of 194–671 μm (447–1550 GHz). The SPIRE detectors are arrays of feedhorn-coupled bolometers cooled to 0.3 K. The photometer has a field of view of 4´× 8´, observed simultaneously in the three spectral bands. Its main operating mode is scan-mapping, whereby the field of view is scanned across the sky to achieve full spatial sampling and to cover large areas if desired. The spectrometer has an approximately circular field of view with a diameter of 2.6´. The spectral resolution can be adjusted between 1.2 and 25 GHz by changing the stroke length of the FTS scan mirror. Its main operating mode involves a fixed telescope pointing with multiple scans of the FTS mirror to acquire spectral data. For extended source measurements, multiple position offsets are implemented by means of an internal beam steering mirror to achieve the desired spatial sampling and by rastering of the telescope pointing to map areas larger than the field of view. The SPIRE instrument consists of a cold focal plane unit located inside the Herschel cryostat and warm electronics units, located on the spacecraft Service Module, for instrument control and data handling. Science data are transmitted to Earth with no on-board data compression, and processed by automatic pipelines to produce calibrated science products. The in-flight performance of the instrument matches or exceeds predictions based on pre-launch testing and modelling: the photometer sensitivity is comparable to or slightly better than estimated pre-launch, and the spectrometer sensitivity is also better by a factor of 1.5–2.

AB - The Spectral and Photometric Imaging REceiver (SPIRE), is the Herschel Space Observatory`s submillimetre camera and spectrometer. It contains a three-band imaging photometer operating at 250, 350 and 500 μm, and an imaging Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS) which covers simultaneously its whole operating range of 194–671 μm (447–1550 GHz). The SPIRE detectors are arrays of feedhorn-coupled bolometers cooled to 0.3 K. The photometer has a field of view of 4´× 8´, observed simultaneously in the three spectral bands. Its main operating mode is scan-mapping, whereby the field of view is scanned across the sky to achieve full spatial sampling and to cover large areas if desired. The spectrometer has an approximately circular field of view with a diameter of 2.6´. The spectral resolution can be adjusted between 1.2 and 25 GHz by changing the stroke length of the FTS scan mirror. Its main operating mode involves a fixed telescope pointing with multiple scans of the FTS mirror to acquire spectral data. For extended source measurements, multiple position offsets are implemented by means of an internal beam steering mirror to achieve the desired spatial sampling and by rastering of the telescope pointing to map areas larger than the field of view. The SPIRE instrument consists of a cold focal plane unit located inside the Herschel cryostat and warm electronics units, located on the spacecraft Service Module, for instrument control and data handling. Science data are transmitted to Earth with no on-board data compression, and processed by automatic pipelines to produce calibrated science products. The in-flight performance of the instrument matches or exceeds predictions based on pre-launch testing and modelling: the photometer sensitivity is comparable to or slightly better than estimated pre-launch, and the spectrometer sensitivity is also better by a factor of 1.5–2.

KW - instrumentation: photometers, instrumentation: spectrographs, space vehicles: instruments, submillimeter: general

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201014519

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201014519

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 518

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

M1 - L3

ER -

The Herschel-SPIRE instrument and its in-flight performance

Abstract

Keywords

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