SPICA-A Large Cryogenic Infrared Space Telescope: Unveiling the Obscured Universe
2018
Measurements in the infrared wavelength domain allow direct assessment of the physical state and energy balance of cool matter in space, enabling the detailed study of the processes that govern the formation and evolution of stars and
planetary systemsin galaxies over
cosmic time. Previous infrared missions revealed a great deal about the obscured Universe, but were hampered by limited sensitivity.
SPICAtakes the next step in infrared observational capability by combining a large 2.5-meter diameter telescope, cooled to below 8 K, with instruments employing ultra-sensitive detectors. A combination of
passive coolingand mechanical coolers will be used to cool both the telescope and the instruments. With mechanical coolers the mission lifetime is not limited by the supply of cryogen. With the combination of low telescope background and instruments with state-of-the-art detectors
SPICAprovides a huge advance on the capabilities of previous missions.
SPICAinstruments offer spectral resolving power ranging from R ~50 through 11 000 in the 17–230 μm domain and R~28.000 spectroscopy between 12 and 18 μm.
SPICAwill provide efficient 30–37 μm broad
band mapping, and small field spectroscopic and polarimetric imaging at 100, 200 and 350 μm.
SPICAwill provide infrared spectroscopy with an unprecedented sensitivity of ~5 × 10^(−20) W m^(−2) (5σ/1 h)—over two orders of magnitude improvement over what earlier missions. This exceptional performance leap, will open entirely new domains in
infrared astronomy; galaxy evolution and metal production over
cosmic time, dust formation and evolution from very early epochs onwards, the formation history of
planetary systems.
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