The InfraRed Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) for TMT: Overview of innovative science programs

Understand

IRIS (InfraRed Imaging Spectrograph) is a first light near-infrared diffraction limited imager and integral field spectrograph being designed for the future Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).

• IRIS is optimized to perform astronomical studies across a significant fraction of cosmic time, from our Solar System to distant newly formed galaxies (Barton et al.
• [1]).
• We present a selection of the innovative science cases that are unique to IRIS in the era of upcoming space and ground-based telescopes.