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The University of Wisconsin - Madison's Department of Astronomy, together with Rutgers University and the South African Astronomical Observatory, is building a Prime Focus Imaging Spectrograph (PFIS) for the SALT telescope. The PFIS will specialize in very high throughput low- and medium-resolution (R = 500-10000) spectroscopy, high time resolution spectroscopy, and spectropolarimetry from 3200 to 9000 Angstroms, using an articulated camera and Volume Phase Holographic gratings and a double etalon Fabry-Perot system. With a peak efficiency near 60% and a 3200 Angstrom efficiency above 25%, it will be unique among or superior to existing 8-10m telescopes in the UV, in medium resolution spectroscopy, in Fabry- Perot spectroscopy, and in spectropolarimetry.

PFIS has recently been renamed the Robert Stobie Spectrograph, in honor of the former Director of the South African Astronomical Observatory. We will miss his enthusiasm and wisdom as SALT achieves its full potential.
PFIS Structure