The Far-Infrared Enhanced Survey Spectrometer (FIRESS) for PRIMA: Approach and Estimated Performance
Abstract
We present the architectural concept for the Far-Infrared Enhanced Survey Spectrometer (FIRESS) for the Probe Mission for far-IR Astrophysics (PRIMA). FIRESS spans the 24--235 micron range with four R ~ 100 slit-fed grating modules, each coupling to a 24 (spatial) by 84 (spectral) pixel array of kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs). All four arrays are read out simultaneously, and a point source of interest can be coupled to two of the four bands at a time. A Fourier transform module can be engaged over a portion of the FIRESS slits to create a high-resolution mode in which the light is intercepted, processed by the interferometer then reinserted into the path to the grating modules for detection. We provide a simulation and description of the technique that will be used to obtain high-resolution spectra. We identify the most important system requirements imposed by the detector system, finding that they are met with the existing design. Finally, we present our performance modeling, including both direct estimates given our current design status, as well as durable guidelines for developing general-observer programs.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2509.02518,
title = {The Far-Infrared Enhanced Survey Spectrometer (FIRESS) for PRIMA: Approach and Estimated Performance},
author = {C. M. and Bradford and Alan J. Kogut and Dale Fixsen and Klaus Pontoppidan and C. Darren Dowell and Jason Glenn and Thomas Pagano and Joseph Green and Marc Foote and James McGuire and Michael Rodger and Robert Calvet and Hien Nguyen and Steve Hailey-Dunsheath and Logan Foote and Elijah Kane and Reinier M. J. Janssen and Margaret Meixner and Alexandra Pope and Alberto Bolatto and JD Smith},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.02518},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
Submitted to JATIS. This paper is part of the JATIS special issue focused on the PRobe Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) probe mission concept. The issue is edited by Matt Griffin and Naseem Rangwala (JATIS VOL. 11, NO. 3 | July 2025)