Dr. Vipin Kumar

Multimode instruments that combine imaging, spectroscopy, and polarimetry within a single optical chain system are highly desired for enhancing the scientific return of any optical/IR telescope facilities around the world. Mount Abu Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera-Pathfinder (MFOSC-P) is one of such instruments providing Imaging with low-resolution spectroscopy, and was commissioned in 2019 on PRL 1.2m telescope. In this talk, I will present the development of MFOSC-P, including its AIT phase, characterization, and commissioning observations, demonstrating the science capabilities of the instrument. Expanding on this, an Echelle spectro-polarimeter named MFOSC-EP is also currently being developed in PRL for the recently established PRL 2.5m telescope. It will provide general FOSC capability with moderate resolution spectro-polarimetry mode. Small to moderate aperture telescopes (2-4m diameters) equipped with spectro-polarimeters open opportunities for time-resolved studies and Target of opportunity observations. In this context, I will also present the optical design of this next-generation instrument, MFOSC-EP, along with its prototype, named ProtoPol, summarizing efforts to overcome some of the challenging design problems. In the latter part of my talk, I will highlight my current involvement in the Warm Calibration Unit (WCU) development for METIS, a mid-infrared imager and spectrograph for the 39m European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). I will describe its design principles, functionality within METIS, and progress in its MAIT phase. The talk will conclude with an overview of my future instrumentation plans focused on developing versatile optical and IR instruments to support a broad range of scientific goals across ground-based observatories.