Thermal Upgrade Summer 1999

In summer 1999 IRCAM was fitted with a cold optical snout and the external warm gold mirrors removed. The plate scale is similar to UFTI's at 0.08"/pixel. The smaller pixels and the removal of the warm mirrors has greatly reduced the flux per pixel in the thermal so observing in that regime is much more efficient. The field of view is only 20.8", but this is larger than the previous 18" field of view required for observing in the thermal with the 64x64 subarray.

IRCAM still contains basic JHK filters and can be used at these wavelengths for sources not requiring a larger FOV. The magnifiers are not available and the pixel scale is fixed. The JOSE prism has been removed. The Fabry Perot will not be implemented with IRCAM in its new configuration as UFTI will have FP capability. Polarimetry will be offered but not initially. IRCAM has been remounted on the East port so that Michelle can be mounted on the North port.

The reconfigured IRCAM was successfully commissioned on September 18th 1999 and became available for PATT observing from October 1999. .