Abstract:
The WST project aim to study and built an innovative 10-m class
wide-field spectroscopic survey telescope (WST) in the southern
hemisphere with simultaneous operation of a large field-of-view (5
sq. degree) and high multiplex (20,000) multi-object spectrograph
facility with both medium and high resolution modes (MOS), and a giant
panoramic integral field spectrograph (IFS). The ambitious WST
top-level requirements place it far ahead of existing and planned
facilities. In just its first 5 years of operation, the MOS will
target 250 million galaxies and 25 million stars at medium resolution
+ 2 million stars at high resolution, and 4 billion spectra with the
IFS. WST will achieve transformative results in most areas of
astrophysics. The combination of MOS and IFS spectroscopic surveys is
one of the key aspects of the project. It is very attractive because
of the high complementarity between the two approaches. I will detail
this innovative point using the example of the MOS and MUSE surveys
performed in the CDFS region. The project aims to be the next major
post-ELT project. It is supported by a large consortium of very
experienced institutes plus ESO, representing 9 European countries and
Australia.
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