2024/06/05 by G. H. Rieke, Rieke, George, Stacey Alberts +11
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA) #Calibration and Measurement Techniques #Economic Growth and Productivity #FOS: Physical sciences
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2406.03518
openalex publication_date 2024/06/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) for JWST is supplied with a suite of imaging bandpass filters optimized for full spectral coverage in eight intermediate-width bands from 5 to 26 microns and a narrower one at 11.3 microns. This contrasts with previous infrared space telescopes, which generally have provided only two broad bands, one near 10 microns and the other near 20 microns. The expanded MIRI spectral capability provides new possibilities for detailed interpretation of survey results. This is an important feature of the instrument, on top of its great increase in sensitivity and angular resolution over any previous mission. The Systematic Mid-infrared Instrument Legacy Extragalactic Survey (SMILES) was designed to take full advantage of this capability. This paper briefly describes the history of infrared surveys that paved the way for MIRI on JWST and for our approach to designng SMILES. It illustrates the use of the observations for a broad range of science programs, and concludes with a brief summary of the need for additional surveys with JWST/MIRI.