Astronomical instrumentation

Abstract:

3D is a new type of a highly sensitive near-infrared integral field spectrometer developed at MPE. It has been designed to multiplex spectral as well as spatial information thus obtaining a full data cube in a single integration. At a spectral resolution between 1000 and 2000 and a field of view of 16 x 16 pixels, optimized for subarcsecond spatial resolution imaging spectroscopy, it has a much higher efficiency compared to conventional techniques. Outfitting one of the VLTs with a near-IR 3D type instrument will provide a powerful tool for diffraction-limited integral field spectroscopic research, in particular on faint high-z galaxies in the early universe. The basic design, recent upgrades as well as plans for a possible VLT-3D instrument are presented.

Abstract:

We present near-infrared observations of NGC 1068 obtained with the SHARP camera at the ESO 3.5 m telescope, and with SHARP II attached to the COME-ONS adaptive optics system at the ESO 3.6 m telescope. From the SHARP observations we obtain a K band image of the stellar bar with O.'' 4 resolution, and an upper limit to the sire of the nuclear K band source of 0.'' 05 (3.5 pc). The adaptive optics observations are used to determine the position of the infrared nucleus with respect to the visible continuum. The centroid of the 5000 to 9000 Angstrom continuum is displaced 0.'' 23 +/- 0.'' 10 to the east and 0.'' 41 +/- 0.'' 10 to the north of the K band peak.

Abstract:

We present near infrared observations of IRAS 04302+2247, a Class I protostar in the Taurus-Auriga molecular cloud complex whose equatorial plane is inclined precisely edge-on to the line of sight (i = 90 degrees +/- 4 degrees). This system displays a unique quadrupolar morphology, which had not been previously predicted in any simulations of a single protostar. We use the Monte Carlo method to tailor a model to our imaging and polarimetric data, and we explain the quadrupolar structure in terms of a dusty jet or outflow which lies perpendicular to the equatorial plane. We constrain the circumstellar structure to the form of an equatorially condensed envelope with a concave bipolar cavity. The circumstellar disk is not seen, which requires that it is physically thin. With its convenient orientation and proximity (d = 140pc) this system should yield many insights into the Class I phase of evolution.

Abstract:

We report 1'' K-band imaging spectroscopy of the z=2.284 galaxy IRAS F10214+4724. We find that the rest-frame H alpha and [N II] emission have different spatial extents. Furthermore, we detect broad (Delta upsilon(FWZP)approximate to 3500 km s(-1)) H alpha emission. We conclude that F10214+4724 is a very luminous gravitationally lensed galaxy, which intrinsically contains both a type 1 AGN and a more extended star-forming disk. The AGN and circumnuclear star formation both contribute significantly to the total luminosity of similar to 10(13)L(circle dot).