The Galaxy Evolution Probe: a concept for a mid and far-infrared space observatory
2018
The Galaxy Evolution Probe (GEP) is a concept for a mid and far-infrared
space observatorydesigned to survey sky for star-forming galaxies from
redshiftsof z = 0 to beyond z = 4. Furthering our knowledge of galaxy formation requires uniform surveys of star-forming galaxies over a large range of
redshiftsand environments to accurately describe star formation,
supermassive black holegrowth, and interactions between these processes in galaxies. The GEP design includes a 2 m diameter SiC telescope
actively cooledto 4 K and two instruments: (1) An imager to detect star-forming galaxies and measure their
redshiftsphotometrically using emission features of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It will cover wavelengths from 10 to 400 μm, with 23 spectral resolution R = 8 filter-defined bands from 10 to 95 μm and five R = 3.5 bands from 95 to 400 μm. (2) A 24 – 193 μm, R = 200 dispersive spectrometer for
redshiftconfirmation, identification of active galactic nuclei, and interstellar astrophysics using atomic fine-structure lines. The GEP will observe from a Sun-
EarthL2
orbit, with a design lifetime of four years, devoted first to galaxy surveys with the imager and second to follow-up spectroscopy. The focal planes of the imager and the spectrometer will utilize KIDs, with the spectrometer comprised of four slit-coupled
diffraction gratingsfeeding the KIDs. Cooling for the telescope, optics, and KID amplifiers will be provided by solar-powered
cryocoolers, with a multi-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator providing 100 mK cooling for the KIDs.
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