SuperFIRE: Concept evolution of a seeing-limited broadband spectrograph for the GMT

Abstract

We are developing the SuperFIRE concept, which builds on the heritage of the FIRE spectrograph at Magellan, as a broadband (about 340 nm to 2.5 um) intermediate resolution (R=10,000) single-shot natural seeing spectrograph for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) with support from the Kavli Foundation. This single-object spectrograph is envisioned as a first-light instrument that can operate in natural seeing and grow in long-term capability as the telescope and adaptive optics systems mature. Here we discuss how the science cases and design have evolved since the concept was initially conceived and presented at SPIE in Edinburgh ten years ago. The primary drivers for the design changes are fast follow-up of faint transients and multi-messenger events, and complementarity to JWST observations in the infrared. By leveraging fast low-noise detectors and modern fabrication techniques we expect high throughput and low scatter that delivers sky limited performance in a few minutes of integration time for fast response and deep integrations. SuperFIRE will operate as a practical point-and-shoot follow-up spectrograph thanks to a versatile standard configuration that needs minimal observing or planning overheads and is insensitive to atmospheric conditions.