Near infrared imaging spectroscopy at spatial resolutions of 0.5 arc seconds will fundamentally change our understanding of active galactic nuclei. This long desired capability has been achieved for the first time by the latest generation of MPE instruments, ROGUE and 3D. ROGUE, the rapid off-axis guider experiment, is a low order adaptive optics system performing tip-tilt correction in the near infrared using natural guide stars. Three-dimensional is the MPE near infrared imaging spectrometer capable of simultaneous imaging and spectroscopy of the entire H and K atmospheric windows. ROGUE is capable of tip-tilt correction at 40 Hz in a 4 arc-minute diameter isokinetic patch using natural guide stars as faint as 18th magnitude. We discuss the design of the instrument, present the first astronomical results, and outline future efforts to incorporate variable image scales.
© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
