Image slicers

An image slicer is designed to sample the telescope’s image field into a series of spectrally analysed, individual portions of images. The analysed image provides a data cube where the spatial and spectral dimensions of the observed object are represented. It is therefore used to provide a spectral analysis of the entire image formed by the telescope.

Bertin Winlight’s image slicers can switch from 1D spectroscopy to full 2D spectroscopy over the entire image, which is used to study spatially extended objects. The technology proposed by Bertin Winlight allows to reach high performances (precise roughness, sharp edges, surface shape, etc.) with standard glass components, while reducing costs and production time. In addition, Bertin Winlight’s image slicers are assembled by molecular adhesion, a precision technique that ensures stability in the system. The optical contact between the panels ensures both cohesion and alignment are preserved.

Our credentials include:

• The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (SWIFT), a space telescope in service in low-Earth orbit
• The Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI) for the M. Keck Observatory (Hawaii, U.S.)
• The Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) for the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT). 24 image slicers (Chile)
• The near-infrared spectropolarimeter (SPIRou), for the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (Hawaii, U.S.)
• The high-resolution solar physics network, SOLARNET