AIRS (Ariel InfraRed Spectrometer) is the main scientific instrument of the Ariel telescope that will obtain low-resolution stellar spectra in two infrared channels (called channel 0, CH0 for the [1.95-3.90] micron band, and channel 1, CH1, for the [3.90-7.80] micron band). The input of the instrument is located at the intermediate focal point of the telescope and the common optics.
| IR Spectrometer (AIRS) 1.95 – 7.8 μm | R ≥ 100 (blow 3.9 μm) R ≥ 30 (above 3.9 μm) | * Detection of chemical components of atmospheres * Temperature measurement of planets (optimized for hot environments) * Extraction of molecular abundances * Determination of horizontal and vertical thermal structures * Detection of temporal variability (weather/cloud distribution) |
This instrument is dedicated to the observation of exo-planetary atmospheres in transmission. The star is observed through the atmosphere of the exoplanet during its transit in front of the star. Then the star is observed again outside the transit. The spectrum obtained by subtracting the non-transit spectrum from the transit spectrum is in principle that of the exoplanet’s atmosphere.
The Ariel team is organized according to this chart
