Mimir - A Near-Infrared Wide-Field Imager, Spectrometer, and Polarimeter

Mimir is the name (not acronym) for a facility-class infrared instrument built at our IAR lab and at Lowell Observatory. Mimir saw first light on the 1.8 meter Perkins telescope outside Flagstaff, Arizona on August 19, 2004. Boston University and Lowell Observatory share equal use of this telescope and its instruments.

Mimir is a multi-function instrument that covers a broad wavelength range and allows users to perform complex observations with a single instrument. The three main functions Mimir performs are imaging (much as a camera takes pictures), spectroscopy (decomposing infrared star light into its constituent colors), and polarimetry. (click here for the recent article describing Mimir in the December 2007 issue of PASP).

Mimir’s wavelength coverage is from 1 to 5 micro-meters, or from about twice the wavelength of green light to about ten times that wavelength. This near-infrared light passes through the earth’s atmosphere only in a few bands of wavelengths (click here to see a plot). These bands are identified by letters, running from the shortest wavelength band, called J, through H, K, L, and M.

Mimir is open for regular scheduling and use by certified users. Mimir's schedule usage on the Perkins telescope for the current quarter may be found on the status page.

NEWS - (click links to see details)

Hardware: DC & BT completed warm servicing 1-9 August, 2008 (more cold head clearance for swapping; cleaned, but unable to remove, LN2 loop; installed new 1.40LP HK-Spec filters; fixed camera limit sensor; inspected, cleaned interior)

Software: new IDL GUI-based reduction tools available :

1. MSP-BDP Basic Data Processing Tool (v1.1)
2. MSP-WCT Spectroscopy Wavelength Calibration Tool (v1.3 - 20081016) - Now does HK-Spec, also!
3. MSP-PPOL - Polarimetry Analysis Tool - Alpha version completed, run. Expect to release Beta version by Feb 28, 2009 (watch this space...)

Proposals: The BU/Lowell PREST "Visitors Program" is no longer accepting proposals. All future proposals to use Mimir must come through BU or Lowell Observatory. Next BU deadline is 1 February, for observing during 2009Q2 (Apr, May, June) - contact DC

Observers: Updates, Instrument Changes

These and other past items of Mimir news

Mimir consists of a large vacuum cryostat that contains lenses, filters, motors, and a large format near-infrared array detector. The lenses take light from the Perkins telescope and focus it onto the detector array. The optics and the detector must operate at low temperatures, so Mimir is kept cool by a helium gas closed-cycle refrigeration system.

All instrument adjustments are made within the cryostat using vacuum cryogenic stepper motors and gear systems. These are controlled by computers located in the warm control room. All control information and image data are conveyed via fiber optics between Mimir and its computers.

Institute for Astrophysical Research, Boston University

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20090112 DPC