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Science Requirements

Here we distill the specific requirements from the science case. We actively encourage the NRT future user community to engage with us about these requirements. Your feedback will be used to fine tune the instrument requirements. 

Supernovae
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  • Early-time optical spectra of Type Ia (Si II line evolution)

  • Colour evolution (UBVRI)

  • Pre-peak spectroscopy

  • Long-term photometric monitoring

  • Early-time polarimetry

  • Nightly spectral monitoring of unknown survey targets 

  • High-cadence, multiband monitoring of Rubin LSNe

  • Low/medium resolution spectroscopy (>SPRAT on LT)

  • UV spectroscopy 

Specific questions
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  • Preference for UV over IR? 

  • Resolution R~1000 adequate?

  • Demand for spectropolarimetry?

  • Photometric bands: ugriz? (same as VRO)

Gamma-ray bursts
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  • 30 second trigger response

  • Early-time simultaneous polarimetry and photometry

  • IR imaging/spectroscopy for redshift determination

  • Orphan afterglow follow-up/search

  • 13 x 13 field of view (based on SVOM)

Specific questions
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  • IR capabilities? 

  • Which bands/wavelengths? 

  • 13 x 13 arcmin FoV adequate?

Electromagnetic counterparts (GW, neutrino, CTA)

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  • Early-time follow-up of rapid colour evolution in kilonovae (~hrs)

  • Detection of candidate counterparts

  • GOTO transient follow-up: RTML/command line triggers

  • Early-time host galaxy spectra

Specific questions​

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  • IR imaging required?
    R~1000-2000?

AGN and TDEs​

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  • Polarimetric and photometric monitoring 

  • Candidate flares classification and monitoring

  • Rapid spectroscopic classification and spectral line ratios

Stellar Astrophysics​

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  • Multicolour, high cadence imaging

  •  R~2000 spectroscopy

  • Wide field of view ~30 arcmin

  • Broadband imaging

  • Multi-object spectroscopy

Specific questions
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  • Low-resolution (R<1000) sufficient for reverb mapping and TDE line ratios?

Specific questions
​

  • Demand for high resolution?

  • Broad band filters?

  • R~2000 sufficient?

Exoplanet and Solar System ​

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  • Simultaneous, high-time-resolution photometry

  • Non-sidereal tracking with autoguider

  • Spectroscopy and polarimetry of asteroids

  • Polarimetry for reflected light

  • Spectroscopy of comet ices

  • Ground-based follow-up observations of planet candidates

Specific questions
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  • Photometry bands?

  • IR capabilities?

  • Precision timing?

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