MIRI
MIRI (Mid-InfraRed Instrument) is a camera and spectrometer for the James Webb Space Telescope. It detects light at wavelengths between 5 and 27 µm. It will be thousands of times more sensitive than the best instruments currently available at earth-based observatories.
The UK ATC is responsible for designing and building the MIRI spectrometer pre-optics module, which includes a set of four image slicers, as well as the spectrometer calibration system and wavelength sorting optics.
Image slicers are a relatively new technology which enable the study of spatial and spectral information simultaneously. The image slicers are based on those made at the UK ATC for the UIST instrument, developed further for use in space at MIRI’s much longer wavelengths.
Detailed information regarding the project is available from the MIRI Project pages.