Future Observational Prospects at Mid-IR Wavelengths & the AGN Torus

Abstract: A mid-infrared (MIR) imager and spectrometer is being investigated for possible construction in the early operation of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).  Combined with the MIR adaptive optics (AO) system (MIRAO), the instrument will afford ~15 times higher sensitivity and ~4 times better spatial resolution (0.07”) with a greatly improved and stable Strehl ratio at 10um compared to the images delivered by the fast guiding systems of 8m-class telescopes.  Through exploiting the large collecting area of the TMT, a high-dispersion spectroscopy mode unrivaled by other ground- and space-based facilities is planned.  Such capabilities offer the possibility for breakthrough science, as well as ‘workhorse’ observing modes of imaging and low/moderate spectral resolution.  In this presentation I detail the approach we followed to initially define the instrument and some of the science cases enabled, with a particular focus on the AGN torus.

Packham Bio:  Chris Packham joined UTSA as an assistant professor in the Physics & Astronomy department in June 2012, and was promoted to Associate Professor in September of 2014.  Before he was an associate scientist at the University of Florida, where he helped or lead the construction of instruments for the MMT, Gemini, and GTC.  Prior to his time in Florida, he was a support astronomer at the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes in Spain.  His Ph.D. was granted from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK in 1997.  He is lucky enough to have spent several summers at the NAOJ in Tokyo.

His research foci are (1) supermassive black holes in external galaxies, (2) protoplanetary discs around stars, and (3) the construction of infrared instrumentation for the world’s largest/most advanced telescopes in order to enable such observations.  His current work is focused on jointly leading an international group of astronomers to use large telescopes to examine supermassive black holes in external galaxies.  He has a total of 229 papers and has worked on instruments on Gemini North, Gemini South, GTC, MMT, UKIRT, and the WHT.