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[35.05] The Hershel-SPIRE Instrument and its Scientific Capabilities

M. J. Griffin (Cardiff University, UK), B. M. Swinyard (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK), L. Vigroux (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France), Herschel-SPIRE Instrument Consortium Collaboration

SPIRE, the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver, is one of three instruments to fly on ESA's Herschel Space Observatory. SPIRE contains a three-band imaging photometer operating at 250, 360 and 520 \mum, and an imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) covering 200-670 \mum. The photometer field of view is 4 x 8 arcminutes and is observed simultaneously in the three bands. The FTS has an approximately circular field of view with a diameter of 2.6 arcminutes. The spectral resolution can be adjusted between 0.04 and 2 cm^-1, allowing line survey spectroscopy or low resolution spectrophotometry. The instrument design, observing modes, and estimated sensitivity will be summarised, and the science capabilities illustrated using examples of Key Projects from the SPIRE consortium’s Guaranteed Time programme covering high redshift galaxies, galaxies in the local universe, star formation, the galactic interstellar medium, evolved stars and circumstellar material, and the solar system.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #4
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.