PMAS: The Potsdam Multi Aperture Spectrophotometer. II. The Wide Integral Field Unit PPak

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Kelz, Andreas, Verheijen, Marc A W, Roth, Martin M, Bauer, Svend M, Becker, Thomas, Paschke, Jens, Popow, Emil, Sanchez, Sebastian F, Laux, Uwe
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 22.12.2005
• Subjects: Apertures; Fibers; Field of view; Focal plane; Integrals; Optimization; Spectral resolution; Surface brightness
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.0512557

PPak is a new fiber-based Integral Field Unit (IFU), developed at the Astrophysical Institute Potsdam, implemented as a module into the existing PMAS spectrograph. The purpose of PPak is to provide both an extended field-of-view with a large light collecting power for each spatial element, as well as an adequate spectral resolution. The PPak system consists of a fiber bundle with 331 object, 36 sky and 15 calibration fibers. The object and sky fibers collect the light from the focal plane behind a focal reducer lens. The object fibers of PPak, each 2.7 arcseconds in diameter, provide a contiguous hexagonal field-of-view of 74 times 64 arcseconds on the sky, with a filling factor of 60%. The operational wavelength range is from 400 to 900nm. The PPak-IFU, together with the PMAS spectrograph, are intended for the study of extended, low surface brightness objects, offering an optimization of total light-collecting power and spectral resolution. This paper describes the instrument design, the assembly, integration and tests, the commissioning and operational procedures, and presents the measured performance at the telescope.