A Mega Integral Field Spectrograph for the VLT

We describe MIFS, a second generation integral-field spectrograph for the VLT, operating in the visible wavelength range. It combines a 1′×1′ field of view with the improved spatial resolution provided by multi-conjugate adaptive optics and covers a large simultaneous spectral range (0.6–1.0 μm). A separate mode exploits the highest spatial resolution provided by adaptive optics. With this unique combination of capabilities, MIFS has a wide domain of application and a large discovery potential.