An Ultraviolet Instrument on the Habitable Worlds Observatory: Considerations and Capability Trades on the Multi-Object, Integral-field, and High-resolution modes of a potential UVI
Abstract
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is NASA's next-generation astrophysics platform, delivering transformative capability in the search for life and study of the origins of the universe. Amongst the instruments under consideration for HWO is a multi-purpose ultraviolet spectrograph and imager that provides a deep toolbox for some of the most pressing science investigations of the next several decades. In this paper, we present a basic draft model of a potential UVI, including a multi-object spectrograph, far ultraviolet imager, high resolution spectrograph, and integral-field spectrograph. The draft designs for these channels of the UV instrument serve as a basis for a general discussion of the instrument architecture and design challenges, while also identifying potential trades, enhancements, and other considerations that the HWO project will need to address as it moves into the formulation phase. We conclude with a presentation of several scientific simulations that have helped guide the capabilities of the draft design. This paper is intended to serve as a summary of UV instrument modes, technology, and potential design ahead of planned instrument studies in the late 2020's, and then Phase A in the early 2030's.
Related
- Technological maturation of a Gigapixels Astrometry instrument for the Habitable World Observatory.
- A design concept for the High Resolution Imager on the Habitable Worlds Observatory
- On the Impact of Correlated Noise and Spectral Resolution on the Retrieval Analysis of the Habitable World Observatory
- The future of high-resolution UV spectroscopy: Science with a UV Échelle spectrograph on the Habitable Worlds Observatory, or a dedicated mission
- CtaAgnVar : a Pipeline for Variability Studies with the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory
BibTeX
@misc{fleming2026ultraviolet,
title = {{An Ultraviolet Instrument on the Habitable Worlds Observatory: Considerations and Capability Trades on the Multi-Object, Integral-field, and High-resolution modes of a potential UVI}},
author = {Brian Fleming and Kevin France and Dmitry Vorobiev and Jeanette Donber and Eric Frater and Thomas Delker and Vicki Herde},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.12974},
eprint = {2610.12974},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.12974},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - An Ultraviolet Instrument on the Habitable Worlds Observatory: Considerations and Capability Trades on the Multi-Object, Integral-field, and High-resolution modes of a potential UVI
AU - Brian Fleming
AU - Kevin France
AU - Dmitry Vorobiev
AU - Jeanette Donber
AU - Eric Frater
AU - Thomas Delker
AU - Vicki Herde
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.12974
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.12974
AB - The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is NASA's next-generation astrophysics platform, delivering transformative capability in the search for life and study of the origins of the universe. Amongst the instruments under consideration for HWO is a multi-purpose ultraviolet spectrograph and imager that provides a deep toolbox for some of the most pressing science investigations of the next several decades. In this paper, we present a basic draft model of a potential UVI, including a multi-object spectrograph, far ultraviolet imager, high resolution spectrograph, and integral-field spectrograph. The draft designs for these channels of the UV instrument serve as a basis for a general discussion of the instrument architecture and design challenges, while also identifying potential trades, enhancements, and other considerations that the HWO project will need to address as it moves into the formulation phase. We conclude with a presentation of several scientific simulations that have helped guide the capabilities of the draft design. This paper is intended to serve as a summary of UV instrument modes, technology, and potential design ahead of planned instrument studies in the late 2020's, and then Phase A in the early 2030's.
ER -