SHARP: a spectrograph proposal to fully exploit ELT capabilities and look beyond JWST
Abstract
The Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs), with their large apertures and cutting-edge Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) systems, promise to deliver data sharper and deeper than even the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) across large fields. SHARP is a concept study for a near-IR (0.95–2.45 μm) spectrograph specifically designed to fully exploit the collecting area and angular resolution capabilities of the upcoming ESO’s ELT. The instrument concept is driven by the goal of tackling the most important questions in astrophysics and cosmology, bridging the gap between the local and distant Universe. This requires versatility to accommodate diverse observational needs. SHARP (http://sharp.brera.inaf.it) is composed of two main units: NEXUS, a Multi-Object Spectrograph (MOS) optimized for detecting the faintest sources, and VESPER, a multi-object Integral Field Unit (multi-IFU) designed for brighter ones. This presentation provides an overview of the scientific design drivers, the solutions developed to meet them, and the resulting optical design that achieves the required performance.