NIRIM: A Dual‐Purpose Near‐Infrared (0.76–2.5 μm) Imaging Camera for Wide‐Field and High‐Resolution Imaging

Abstract

We present the design and performance characteristics of the Near‐Infrared Imager (NIRIM), which is a near‐infrared camera operating in the 0.76−2.5 μm wavelength range. NIRIM is an example of a cost‐effective way to expand two telescopes' capabilities to infrared wavelengths. NIRIM has been used for photometry and wide‐field (85 × 85) imaging on our 1 m telescope at the Mount Laguna Observatory since 1995 August. In the future, NIRIM will also be used for high angular resolution imaging with the University of Illinois Seeing Improvement System (UnISIS), which is a laser guided adaptive optics system at the coudé focus of the Mount Wilson 2.5 m telescope.