A long-standing problem of astrophysical research is how to simultaneously obtain spectra of thousands of sources randomly positioned in the field of view of a telescope. Digital Micromirror Devices, used as optical switches, provide a most powerful solution allowing to design a new generation of instruments with unprecedented capabilities. We illustrate the key factors (opto-mechanical, cryo-thermal, cosmic radiation environment,...) that constrain the design of DMD-based multi-object spectrographs, with particular emphasis on the IR spectroscopic channel onboard the EUCLID mission, currently considered by the European Space Agency for a 2017 launch date.
@article{arxiv.0902.2775,
title = {Applications of DMDs for astrophysical research},
author = {M. Robberto and A. Cimatti and A. Jacobsen and F. Zamkotsian and F. M. Zerbi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0902.2775},
year = {2009}
}