8—10m级光学／红外望远镜的高分辨率光谱仪

介绍并比较Keck、Subaru、VLT、HET及Gemini中的5架8～10m天文望远镜的高分辨率光谱仪,分析这些仪器与2～4m级望远镜的阶梯光栅光谱仪或Coudé光谱仪相比所采用的新设计思想和新技术.     

抚仙湖一米新真空太阳望远镜6米近红外光谱仪装调及太阳1.56微米光谱的初步观测结果

主要介绍了抚仙湖1 m新真空太阳望远镜(the 1-meter New Vacuum Solar Telescope,NVST)6 m水平式近红外光谱仪的安装过程和实测结果。主要讨论内容是光路设计特点、光学系统的装调以及利用该光谱仪对活动区NOAA 11662黑子进行的初步近红外光谱实测(波长1.56μm附近)。成功观测到由黑子强磁场造成的Fe I 1.56μm谱线裂变现象,并初步估算了磁场强度。该光谱的成功装调和使用,充分实现了对9 m光谱仪光学系统的整体检测,为9 m光谱仪的安装调试提供了宝贵的经验和参考。     

云南天文台1m望远镜暗天体分光仪和照相机

云南天文台1m望远镜终端之一的暗天体分光仪和照相机具有4种运行模式:缩焦照相机、无缝多目标光谱仪、有缝光谱仪和星冕仪。这4种运行模式能在几分钟的时间内相互转换,高效快速和灵活方便。该仪器的光学质量优秀,光学系统消像差,特别是消色差。由于光学系统消色差,所成像的低色散光谱在404.6～766.5nm全波段尖锐平直。在多色测光时,各测光波段的像面位置不变,同时兼有大视场的优点,可提高测光精度和测光效率。     

红外波段太阳观测技术方法研究

1m红外太阳塔是我国未来重点发展的地面太阳观测设备，本文的所有工作均围绕着与此相关的红外波段太阳观测技术方法展开。1．针对望远镜实验平台－云台太阳光谱仪，建立了光谱仪分光流量,工用多种实验手段验证了其可靠性。利用该模型计算了Fe Ⅰ1.56μm红外太阳光 谱的分光流量，分析了实验观测的可行性及改进方案。2．针对探测器实验平台－PtSi红外焦平面阵列相机，建立了FeⅠ1.56μm光谱观测信噪比模型，模拟了各种噪声对观测的影响。在此基础上，在国内首次成功进行了FeⅠ1.56μm红外太阳光谱的面阵观测实验。3．在红外观测实验所处的高背景低对比度条件下，讨论了红外太阳光谱观测的图像处理方法，分析了观测中出现的干涉条纹的来源及解决办法，初步建立起了一整套红外太阳光谱与成像的定标方法和图像处理方法。4．首次利用PVA材料，设计研制了一套FeⅠ1.56μm近红外Stokes参量偏振仪，并将该偏振仪安装在美国国立天文台McMath望远镜上进行了观测实验。针对一太阳黑子，通过扫描进行了二维的Stokes参量观测。同时建立了一套从Stokes参量反演磁矢量场的方法，并将反演的结果与怀柔太阳磁场望远镜的观测结果进行了比对。5．针对1m红外太阳塔的太阳光谱仪系统，给出了垂直多波段光谱仪和红外大色散光谱仪的光、机初步设计。6．针对1m红外太阳塔的科学目标，提出了多波段光谱仪探测器系统方案，对红外大色散光谱仪所使用的红外探测器也进行了初步方案设计。     

光学／红外望远镜和技术的进展

天文望远镜和技术在20世纪末取得了空前的辉煌成就,并将取得更辉煌的成就(1)大型望远镜的研制口径10m的两架Keck望远镜已分别在1994年和1996年投入工作.ESOVLT四架8m望远镜中的第一架已在1998年Firstlight,最后一架也将在今年内Firstlight.两架Gemini8m中的一架和一架Subaru8m望远镜都已完成.HET9m望远镜正在最后调试.由两个8m望远镜组成的LBT将于2004年完成,一架10m(复制的Keck)和一架9m(复制的HET)望远镜正在研制中.这些望远镜已配备或将配备先进的光学、红外CCD照相机和光谱仪,如Keck的NIRSPEC、VLT的FORS、ISAAC等.巡天计划中SDSS、2dF、2MASS和DENIS仪器已完成,都已投入观测.LAMOST正在积极研制中,VISTA即将开始研制.现在CalTech等已开始研制口径30m的极大望远镜(ELT),ESO和NOAO已开始了口径100m望远镜的预研,中国和英国也提出了很好的ELT方案.(2)探测器的改进当前CCD的量子效率QE蓝片已达70%～80%,红片已达90%,已投入使用的最大的拼接的CCD为12k×8k,几个8k×8k的CCD已用在望远镜上.当前20k×18k的拼接的CCD正在研制中.天文观测上CCD已取代了照相机底片.红外波段HgCdTe1k×1k的CCD已投入工作,2k×2k的正在研制中.(3)光干涉系统的进展多个光干涉系统已投入观测并取得了一系列天文成果,如GI2T,COAST、IOTA,NPOI,PTI、ISI、SUSI、MIRA;一些光干涉系统正在发展中,如CHARA、MRO、LBT;特别是两架Keck望远镜、四架VLT都配以一些较小的望远镜组成巨大的干涉阵,前者最长基线140m,后者200m,将在今后的数年内完成并投入观测.(4)自适应光学系统的应用许多3～4m级的望远镜已配置或正在研制相应的自适应光学系统,红外和可见光波段的衍射极限的像已在3～4m级的望远镜上获得,Keck和ESO都正在发展用于10m和8m望远镜的自适应光学系统.正在研制和预研中的30m到100m口径的望远镜也都配有自适应光学和光干涉系统.注本报告以McleanIS等执笔的IAUCommission9三年进展报告(见ReportsonAstronomy1996～1999,IAUTransaction,Vol.24A,p.316～327)为蓝本,补充扩大而成.     

红外波段太阳观测技术方法研究

1m红外太阳塔是我国未来重点发展的地面太阳观测设备 ,本文的所有工作均围绕着与此相关的红外波段太阳观测技术方法展开。1 .针对望远镜实验平台—云台太阳光谱仪 ,建立了光谱仪分光流量模型 ,并用多种实验手段验证了其可靠性。利用该模型计算了FeⅠ 1 .56μm红外太阳光谱的分光流量 ,分析了实验观测的可行性及改进方案。2 .针对探测器实验平台—PtSi红外焦平面阵列相机 ,建立了FeⅠ 1 .56μm光谱观测信噪比模型 ,模拟了各种噪声对观测的影响。在此基础上 ,在国内首次成功进行了FeⅠ1 .56μm红外太阳光谱的面阵观测实验。3 .在红外观测实验所处的高背景低对比度条件下 ,讨论了红外太阳光谱观测的图像处理方法 ,分析了观测中出现的干涉条纹的来源及解决办法 ,初步建立起了一整套红外太阳光谱与成像的定标方法和图像处理方法。4 .首次利用PVA材料 ,设计研制了一套FeⅠ 1 .56μm近红外Stokes参量偏振仪 ,并将该偏振仪安装在美国国立天文台McMath望远镜上进行了观测实验。针对一太阳黑子 ,通过扫描进行了二维的Stokes参量观测。同时建立了一套从Stokes参量反演磁矢量场的方法 ,并将反演的结果与怀柔太阳磁场望远镜的观测结果进行了比对。5.针对 1m红外太阳塔的太阳光谱仪系统 ,给出了垂直多波段光谱仪和红外     

30m级光学/红外望远镜的宽视场多目标光谱仪

宽视场多目标光谱仪具有宽波段、多分辨率模式和高通光效率的特点,是极大望远镜终端仪器使用率最高的通用型仪器. 30 m级望远镜的宽视场多目标光谱仪因体量和成本急剧增加而面临重要挑战,同时天文学的不断发展对天文新技术的发展提出了更高的要求,尤其是多个巡天项目对于多目标光谱后随观测的迫切需求.综述了几类宽视场多目标光谱仪的发展现状,介绍了国际3架30 m望远镜宽视场多目标光谱仪概念设计的最新进展和仪器特点,着重介绍了中国参与研制的30 m望远镜(TMT)中的宽视场多目标光谱仪的相关进展.     

1米太阳望远镜光谱仪像旋转及消旋控制

光谱仪是1 m太阳望远镜的主要终端设备之一,该望远镜采用地平式的机架结构和修正的格里高利光学系统。在望远镜跟踪太阳时,由于地平式望远镜的自身运动特点和光学系统中平面反射镜的存在,其光谱仪狭缝所在平面上的太阳像随时间绕主光轴旋转,因此光谱仪必须进行消旋才能正常工作。首先深入研究了光谱仪狭缝平面上像的旋转变化,分析其旋转范围、速度和加速度随时角变化的特性,然后根据光谱仪消旋精度并结合像的旋转特性提出伺服系统位置检测和驱动电机的主要性能指标,最后给出光谱仪消旋伺服控制方案。     

一米望远镜低色散光谱仪试验

本文介绍了云南天文台一米望远镜附属的一台低色散光谱仪实验装置,介绍了该装置的设计原理、系统结构参数及试观测情况,并讨论了存在的问题和解决问题的设想。我们已用该装置观测到19m左右的具有大红移的类星体光谱。该类低色散光谱仪,将为我国星系研究工作者提供实测条件。     

云南天文台1m望远镜暗天体分光仪和照相机

云南天文台1m望远镜终端之一的暗天体分光仪和照相机具有4种运行模式：缩焦照相机、无缝多目标光谱仪、有缝光谱仪和星冕仪。这4种运行模式能在几分钟的时间内相互转换，高效快速和灵活方便。该仪器的光学质量优秀，光学系统消像差，特别是消色差。由于光学系统消色差，所成像的低色散光谱在404．6～766．5nm全波段尖锐平直。在多色测光时，各测光波段的像面位置不变，同时兼有大视场的优点，可提高测光精度和测光效率。     

Comments on the next generation of ground-based solar telescopes

The development of telescope capabilities tends to go in spurts. These are triggered by the availability of new techniques in optics, mechanics and/or instrumentation. So has nighttime telescope technology developed since the construction in the nineteen-forties of the 5-m Hale telescope, first by the introduction in the sixties of high efficiency electronic detectors, followed recently by the production of large 8- to 10-m mirrors and now by the implementation of adaptive optics. In solar astronomy, major steps were the introduction of the coronagraph by Lyot in the nineteen-thirties and the vacuum telescope concept by Dunn in the sixties. In the last thirty years, telescope developments in solar astronomy have relied primarily on improved instrumental capabilities. As in nighttime astronomy, these instruments and their detectors are reaching their limits set by the quantum nature of light and the telescope diffraction. Larger telescopes are needed to increase sensitivity and angular resolution of the observations. In this paper, I will review recent efforts to increase substantially the telescope capabilities themselves. I will emphasize the concept of a large all-wavelength, coronagraphic telescope (CLEAR) which is presently being developed.Dedicated to Cornelis de Jager     

A new concept and a preliminary design for a high resolution (HR) and very‐high resolution (VHR) spectrograph for the LBT

A way to fully exploit the large collecting area of modern 8–10m class telescopes is high resolution spectroscopy. Many astrophysical problems from planetary science to cosmology benefit from spectroscopic observations at the highest resolution currently achievable and would benefit from even higher resolutions. Indeed in the era of 8–10m class telescopes no longer the telescope collecting area but the size of the beam – which is related to the maximum size in which reflection gratings are manufactured – is what mainly limits the resolution. A resolution‐slit product R_φ ≃ 40,000 is the maximum currently provided by a beam of 20 cm illuminating the largest grating mosaics. We present a conceptual design for a spectrograph with R_φ ≃ 80,000, i.e. twice as large as that of existing instruments. Examples of the possible exploitation of such a high R_φ value, including spectropolarimetry and very high resolution (R ∼ 300,000), are discussed in detail. The new concept is illustrated through the specific case of a high resolution spectropolarimeter for the Large Binocular Telescope.     

High-resolution fiber-fed spectrographs

We analyze the properties of high-resolution spectrographs fed from the telescope through optical fiber links. We report the results of tests performed with the fiber-fed spectrograph that we developed for 1–2 m telescopes.     

Wide Field Multi-object Spectrograph for 30 m Class Optical/Near-infrared Telescopes

Due to its wide wavelength coverage, multi-resolution mode, and high transmission efficiency, the wide field multi-object spectrograph becomes the most common-used universal instrument in extremely large telescopes. It's still a great challenge to build the wide field multi-object spectrograph for a 30 m class telescope because of its sharply increased volume and budget. With the rapid development of astronomy and astrophysics, the innovation of astronomical technology is fundamentally required. In this paper, the research progress of different kinds of wide-field multi-object spectrographs is illustrated and reviewed, the recent status of conceptual designs and the instrument features of the wide field multi-object spectrographs of the three 30 m class telescopes in the world, especially the current effort made by the Chinese team for the wide field multi-object spectrograph of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) are introduced.     

Spectro‐polarimetry in the era of large solar telescopes

This paper discusses some of the challenges of spectro‐polarimetric observations with a large aperture solar telescope such as the ATST or the EST. The observer needs to reach a compromise between spatial and spectral resolution, time cadence, and signal‐to‐noise ratio, as only three of those four parameters can be pushed to the limit. Tunable filters and grating spectrographs provide a natural compromise as the former are more suitable for high‐spatial resolution observations while the latter are a better choice when one needs to work with many wavelengths at full spectral resolution. Given the requirements for the new science targeted by these facilities, it is important that 1) tunable filters have some multi‐wavelength capability; and 2) grating spectrographs have some 2D field of view (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A decade of cost-reduction in very large telescopes (The SST as prototype of special-purpose telescopes)

Many design and technical innovations over the past ten or fifteen years have reduced the costs of very large telescopes by nearly an order of magnitude over those of classical designs. Still a further order of magnitude reduction is possible if the telescope is specialized for on-axis spectroscopy, giving up especially the luxuries of wide field, multiple focal positions, and access to all the sky at will. The SST (Spectroscopic Survey Telescope) with use eighty-five 1 m circular mirrors mounted in a steel frame composed of hundreds of interlocking tetrahedrons, keeping a fixed elevation angle of 60° with rotation only in azimuth. Using an optical fiber it will feed as much light to spectrographs as can be done by a conventional 8 m telescope, yet has a target basic completion cost of only $6 million.Paper presented at the Symposium on the JNLT and Related Engineering Development, Tokyo, November 29–December 2, 1988.     

Stellar spectroscopy in ground-based ultraviolet. I: Observational technique

We present a historical note on the main spectroscopy instruments close to the short-wave boundary of the optical atmospheric window. Ground-based ultraviolet observations imposemore stringent requirements to the optics of telescopes and spectrographs, as well as to the calibration means. We have to bear in mind the seasonal variations of the optical properties of the Earth’s atmosphere. We consider the capabilities of ultraviolet observations with high spectral resolution on the 6-m BTA telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences.     

OSIRIS Imaging and Spectroscopy for the GTC

The characteristics of OSIRIS (Optical System for Imaging and low-Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy), an instrument for imaging and low resolution spectroscopy proposed for the GTC 10m telescope, are described. OSIRIS is a multi-purpose instrument that incorporates in a "classical design" several innovations, already tested in 4m-class telescopes, that will provide a powerful first light instrument for the GTC. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Monte Carlo studies of medium-size telescope designs for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

We present studies for optimizing the next generation of ground-based imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs). Results focus on mid-sized telescopes (MSTs) for CTA, detecting very high energy gamma rays in the energy range from a few hundred GeV to a few tens of TeV. We describe a novel, flexible detector Monte Carlo package, FAST (FAst Simulation for imaging air cherenkov Telescopes), that we use to simulate different array and telescope designs. The simulation is somewhat simplified to allow for efficient exploration over a large telescope design parameter space. We investigate a wide range of telescope performance parameters including optical resolution, camera pixel size, and light collection area. In order to ensure a comparison of the arrays at their maximum sensitivity, we analyze the simulations with the most sensitive techniques used in the field, such as maximum likelihood template reconstruction and boosted decision trees for background rejection. Choosing telescope design parameters representative of the proposed Davies–Cotton (DC) and Schwarzchild–Couder (SC) MST designs, we compare the performance of the arrays by examining the gamma-ray angular resolution and differential point-source sensitivity. We further investigate the array performance under a wide range of conditions, determining the impact of the number of telescopes, telescope separation, night sky background, and geomagnetic field. We find a 30–40% improvement in the gamma-ray angular resolution at all energies when comparing arrays with an equal number of SC and DC telescopes, significantly enhancing point-source sensitivity in the MST energy range. We attribute the increase in point-source sensitivity to the improved optical point-spread function and smaller pixel size of the SC telescope design.     

History of solar telescopes

Solar observations have been done with telescopes since their invention—already Galileo looked at the Sun. Despite the Sun’s unusual brightness, telescopes which specialize in solar observations are fairly recent, dating from the late nineteenth century onwards. Today, many solar telescopes have rather little in common with nighttime telescopes. They are adapted to high light flux, a limited range of declination, and to the specifications of solar spectrographs and polarimeters. This paper presents the history of the modern optical solar telescope on the ground and in space, the accompanying evolution of scientific capabilities, and a brief outlook into the future.