Mid-InfRAred Camera w/wo LEns (MIRACLE) for SPICA

¹ Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan

Abstract

Mid-InfRAred Camera w/wo LEns (MIRACLE) is the focal plane instrument designed for wide field imaging (6' × 6') and low-resolution spectroscopic observations (R = 100) over a wide spectral range in the mid-infrared wavelength (5-38 μm). Thanks to the SPICA’s cooled telescope, MIRACLE has a better sensitivity than JWST/MIRI at wavelengths over 20 μm and its wider FOV provides a faster mapping speed in 5-26 μm. MIRACLE opens a new wavelength region of 26-38 μm. Contiguous wavelength coverage is considered in the choice of the filter bands from the experiences in the Spitzer and AKARI observations. MIRACLE is equipped with a field stop wheel, which provides optimal slits in the spectroscopic mode and a wide FOV in the imaging mode. The results of a conceptual design study including sensitivity analysis are presented.