High-resolution spectrograph at Lyman-α (HIRSL): an innovative optical design for high dispersion UV spectroscopy

Abstract

A high-heritage echelle UV spectrograph has been redesigned in a compact space-deployable package while achieving equal or better spectral resolution, sensitivity, and maintaining low power consumption and low mass. The system is designed to measure UV emissions such as H & D Lyman-α, and O-triplet with ≤10 km/s resolution. The resulting spectral resolution surpasses state-of-the-art systems and enables unprecedented discovery of the different populations of H atoms that make up interplanetary hydrogen to better understand the dynamics at the edge of our Solar System—a key objective of the planned NASA Interstellar Probe (ISP) mission. Furthermore, this instrument has versatile applications for terrestrial, planetary, and cometary science that can complement lunar and planetary, as well as heliospheric missions.