Herschel-SPIRE: design, ground test results, and predicted performance

Abstract

SPIRE, the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver, is a submillimetre camera and spectrometer for Herschel. It comprises a three-band camera operating at 250, 350 and 500 µm, and an imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer covering 194-672 μm. The photometer field of view is 4x8 arcmin., viewed simultaneously in the three bands. The FTS has an approximately circular field of view of 2.6 arcmin. diameter and spectral resolution adjustable between 0.04 and 2 cm^-1 ( λ/▵λ=20-1000 at 250 μm). Following successful testing in a dedicated facility designed to simulate the in-flight operational conditions, SPIRE has been integrated in the Herschel spacecraft and is now undergoing system-level testing prior to launch. The main design features of SPIRE are reviewed, the key results of instrument testing are outlined, and a summary of the predicted in-flight performance is given.