Lines of instrumentation: Infrared instrumentation

Infrared instrumentation

The instrumentation to detect and analyze the light in the infrared range of the spectrum is one of the fields of knowledge of the Instrumentation Division. The design and construction of infrared cameras and spectrographs requires high vacuum and cryogenic technologies, involving the specialties of mechanical engineering, optics and electronics, mainly. The integration and operation of mechanisms and devices in a cryogenic environment is especially complex and requires highly specialized knowledge and equipment. The Instrumentation Division has a long history of international participation in this type of instrumentation.

  • Publication
    Obscuration beyond the nucleus: infrared quasars can be buried in extreme compact starbursts
    In the standard quasar model, the accretion disc obscuration is due to the canonical dusty torus. Here, we argue that a substantial part of the quasar...
  • Publication
    Observational constraints on the stellar recycled gas in active galactic nuclei feeding
    Near-infrared long-slit spectroscopy has been used to study the stellar population (SP) of the low luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and matched...
  • Publication
    Observational Tests of Active Galactic Nuclei Feedback: An Overview of Approaches and Interpretation
    Growing supermassive black holes (Active Galactic Nuclei; AGN) release energy with the potential to alter their host galaxies and larger-scale environment; a...
  • Document
    PARALAJES Infrared
    Most of the energy emitted by the Universe is infrared and, therefore, we cannot see it without special instruments. The IAC has been aware of this since its...
    Paralajes nº4 El Infrarrojo (PDF)
  • Grant
    Participation of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias in the development of the HARMONI instrument for the Extremely Large Telescope: Phase-D1
    The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is building a segmented and adaptive telescope with a 39-metre primary mirror, the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). It...
  • Publication
    Physical Parameters of the Torus for the Type 2 Seyfert IC 5063 from Mid-IR and X-Ray Simultaneous Spectral Fitting
    In order to understand the diversity of classes observed in active galactic nuclei (AGNs), a geometrically and optically thick torus of gas and dust is required...
  • Gallery
    Placement of the four legs of the test cryostat in the AIV room of the IAC
    Placement of the four legs of the test cryostat in the AIV room of the IAC. Credit: Inés Bonet (IAC)
  • Publication
    Polarization of changing-look quasars
    If the disappearance of the broad emission lines observed in changing-look quasars originates from the obscuration of the quasar core by dusty clouds moving in...
  • Publication
    Polarization of the changing-look quasar J1011+5442
    If the disappearance of the broad emission lines observed in changing-look quasars were caused by the obscuration of the quasar core through moving dust clouds...