Bacon, Roland;
Maineiri, Vincenzo;
Randich, Sofia;
Cimatti, Andrea;
Kneib, Jean-Paul;
Brinchmann, Jade;
Ellis, Richard;
... Ziegler, Bodo; + view all
(2024)
WST - Widefield Spectroscopic Telescope: Motivation, science drivers and top-level requirements for a new dedicated facility.
In: Marshall, HK and Spyromilio, J and Usuda, T, (eds.)
Proceedings Volume 13094, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes X.
SPIE: Yokohama, Japan.
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Abstract
In this paper, we describe the wide-field spectroscopic survey telescope (WST) project. WST is a 12-metre wide-field spectroscopic survey telescope with simultaneous operation of a large field-of-view (3 sq. degree), high-multiplex (20,000) multi-object spectrograph (MOS), with both a low and high-resolution modes, and a giant 3×3 arcmin2 integral field spectrograph (IFS). In scientific capability, these specifications place WST far ahead of existing and planned facilities. In only 5 years of operation, the MOS would target 250 million galaxies and 25 million stars at low spectral resolution, plus 2 million stars at high resolution. Without need for pre-imaged targets, the IFS would deliver 4 billion spectra offering many serendipitous discoveries. Given the current investment in deep imaging surveys and noting the diagnostic power of spectroscopy, WST will fill a crucial gap in astronomical capability and work in synergy with future ground and space-based facilities. We show how it can address outstanding scientific questions in the areas of cosmology; galaxy assembly, evolution, and enrichment, including our own Milky Way; the origin of stars and planets; and time domain and multi-messenger astrophysics. WST’s uniquely rich dataset may yield unforeseen discoveries in many of these areas. The telescope and instruments are designed as an integrated system and will mostly use existing technology, with the aim to minimise the carbon footprint and environmental impact. We will propose WST as the next European Southern Observatory (ESO) project after completion of the 39-metre ELT.
| Type: | Proceedings paper |
|---|---|
| Title: | WST - Widefield Spectroscopic Telescope: Motivation, science drivers and top-level requirements for a new dedicated facility |
| Event: | Conference on Ground-Based and Airborne Telescopes X |
| Location: | JAPAN, Yokohama |
| Dates: | 16 Jun 2024 - 21 Jun 2024 |
| ISBN-13: | 978-1-5106-7511-7 |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1117/12.3018093 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3018093 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Science & Technology, Physical Sciences, Technology, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Instruments & Instrumentation, Optics, science drivers, telescope design, wide-field, multi-object spectroscopy, integral field spectroscopy |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Physics and Astronomy |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10203453 |
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