From CODEX to ESPRESSO to HIRES@EELT: a view on cosmology and fundamental physics from the IGM perspective
S. Cristiani, G. Cupani, V. D'Odorico, P. Di Marcantonio, M. Haehnelt, R. Maiolino, A. Marconi, C. J. A. P. Martins, D. Mégevand, P. Molaro, M. T. Murphy, L. Origlia, F. Pepe
Abstract
The Italian community, thanks to the strong technological and scientific tradition in the field of high-resolution spectroscopy and the study of the Intergalactic Medium, has played a key role in the conception of a high-resolution spectrograph for the new generation of giant telescopes (initially focused on the COsmic Dynamics EXperiment at OWL). This expertise is being exploited in the construction of a precursor: the ESPRESSO instrument that will start operations at the ESO VLT in 2017 and will pave the way to the HIRES instrument at the E-ELT. Here we discuss the role that the (evolving) scientific themes of cosmology and fundamental physics - from the Intergalactic Medium perspective - have played and are playing to shape the E-ELT high resolution instrument.
Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana
(Eds.)