The Experience from VISIR and the Design of an ELT Mid-infrared Instrument

VISIR is the VLT mid-infrared (mid-IR) Imager and Spectrometer. It provides data at high spatial and spectral resolution in the N (8–13 μm) and Q (16–20 μm) atmospheric windows. VISIR observations have provided unique constraints on targets such as central regions of AGNs, or protoplanetary disks. Its successor on an ELT will provide data with unique spatial resolution (0.05 arcsec) and competitive sensitivity (50 μJy sources detectable in 1 hour), thus allowing e.g. to better characterize exoplanetary disks and exoplanets. We review here a selection of scientific contributions thanks to VISIR and then, in the light of the VISIR experience, we discuss the stakes for a mid-IR instrument at the European ELT.