Instruments, Detectors and the Future of Astronomy with Large Ground Based Telescopes

Results of a survey of instrumentation and detector systems, either currently deployed or planned for use at telescopes larger than 3.5 m, in ground based observatories world-wide, are presented. This survey revealed a number of instrumentation design trends at optical, near, and mid-infrared wavelengths. Some of the most prominent trends include the development of vastly larger optical detector systems (> 10⁹ pixels) than anything built to date, and the frequent use of mosaics of near-infrared detectors – something that was quite rare only a decade ago in astronomy. Some future science applications for detectors are then explored, in an attempt to build a bridge between current detectors and what will be needed to support the research ambitions of astronomers in the future.     

Strategies for spectroscopy on Extremely Large Telescopes – II. Diverse-field spectroscopy

The fields of view of Extremely Large Telescopes will contain vast numbers of spatial sampling elements (spaxels) as their adaptive optics systems approach the diffraction limit over wide fields. Since this will exceed the detection capabilities of any realistic instrument, the field must be dilutely sampled to extract spectroscopic data from selected regions of interest. The scientific return will be maximized if the sampling pattern provides an adaptable combination of separated independent spaxels and larger contiguous subfields, seamlessly combining integral-field and multiple-object spectroscopy. We illustrate the utility of this diverse-field spectroscopy (DFS) to cosmological studies of galaxy assembly. We show how to implement DFS with an instrument concept: the Celestial Selector. This integrates highly multiplexed monolithic fibre systems and switching networks of the type currently available in the telecommunications industry. It avoids bulky moving parts, whose limitations were noted in Paper I. In Paper III, we will investigate the optimization of such systems by varying the input–output mapping.     

The Ultimate CCD for Laser Guide Star Wavefront Sensing on Extremely Large Telescopes

All of the extremely large telescopes (ELTs) will utilize sodium laser guide star (LGS) adaptive optics (AO) systems. Most of these telescopes plan to use the Shack-Hartmann approach for wavefront sensing. In these AO systems, the laser spots in subapertures at the edge of the pupil will suffer from spot elongation due to the 10 km extent of the sodium layer and the large separation from the projection laser. This spot elongation will severely degrade the performance of standard geometry wavefront sensing systems. In this paper, we present a CCD with custom pixel morphology that aligns the pixels of each subaperture with the radial extension of the LGS spot. This CCD design will give better performance than a standard geometry CCDs for continuous wave lasers. In addition, this CCD design is optimal for a pulsed sodium laser. The pixel geometry enables each subaperture to follow a laser pulse traversing the sodium layer, providing optimal sampling of a limited number of detected photons. In addition to novel pixel layout, this CCD will also incorporate experimental JFET sense amplifiers and use CMOS design approaches to simplify the routing of biases, clocks and video output. This CCD will attain photon-noise limited performance at high frame rates, and is being incorporated in the plans for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).     

一个巨型望远镜方案

提出一个有特色的巨型望远镜(FGT)方案．其主镜口径为30米，主焦比为1．2，由1095块圆环形子镜构成．采用地平式装置．光学系统包括Nasmyth系统、折轴(Coude)系统和一个大视场系统．提出一个由4个镜面组成的新的Nasmyth系统，在约10′的视场范围内像斑小于爱里斑，达到衍射极限．比传统的Nasmyth系统的衍射极限视场大得多．可在这样的大视场内同时作好几个小区域的衍射极限的观测．当由Nasmyth系统转换到折轴系统和大视场系统时，采用主动光学技术改变子镜的面形、倾斜和平移，产生一个新的主镜面形，使折轴系统和大视场系统都能得到很好的像质．大视场系统的视场直径25′，场曲轻微，并有可能校正大气色散．给出了子镜面形和位置的公差，并讨论了望远镜的装置和结构,方案中的特色和创新对未来大望远镜的研制有普遍意义．     

一种扩大FAST视场的方法

所有的大口径射电望远镜都存在这样一个问题：在其分辨率和灵敏度提高的同时，视场变小．而且口径越大，视场越小．这成为大口径望远镜不可回避的矛盾．要解决这个矛盾，可以在望远镜的焦平面上放置Ⅳ个分立馈源．让它们同时工作，这样可以看作把视场扩大了Ⅳ倍．望远镜的工作效率提高Ⅳ倍．但是这样做的缺点是——视场不连续．且馈源数目Ⅳ受到望远镜焦比(F／D)的限制．采用致密焦面阵(dense focal plane array)就可以很好地解决这个问题．致密焦面阵的单元不是喇叭口天线，而是无方向性的Vivaldi天线(Vivaldi antenna)．要把Vivaldi阵列应用到望远镜上，需要对单个Vivaldi天线和Vivaldi阵列的电性能有清楚的认识，并能根据需要来设计照明方向图．还要知道大望远镜的焦面上电磁场的分布情况，借此判断能否应用Vivaldi阵列，以及给出Vivaldi单元的分路赋权网络．主要给出了FAST的焦面场的分布情况．并说明应用Vivaldi阵列的可能性．     

大口径离轴非球面镜预应力环抛方法研究

提出了一种加工离轴非球面的预应力环抛方法,基于预应力加工方法的基本原理,利用环抛机来磨制离轴非球面.设计了一套专门的加载装置,将拼接镜面中具有不同离轴量的非球面子镜转化成曲率半径相同的球面子镜进行磨制,可以在同一台环抛机上进行抛光.利用这种方法,花费连续40 h的时间,磨制了一块按照中国30 m极大口径望远镜(CFGT)主镜参数比例缩小的离轴抛物面,顶点曲率半径21.6 m,离轴量3.6 m,离轴口径为330 mm,最大非球面度为16μm.试验表明该方法效率高,适用于批量加工,特别是极大口径天文望远镜拼接主镜的大批量非球面子镜研制.     

Solar-Blind Diamond Detectors for Lyra, the Solar VUV Radiometer on Board Proba II

Fabrication, packaging and experimental results on the calibration of metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors made on diamond are reported. LYRA (Lyman- RAdiometer onboard PROBA-2) will use diamond detectors for the first time in space for a solar physics instrument. A set of measurement campaigns was designed to obtain the XUV-to-VIS responsivity of the devices and other characterizations. The measurements of responsivity in EUV and VUV spectral ranges (40–240 nm) have been carried out by the Physkalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Germany at the electron storage ring BESSY II. The longer wavelength range from 210 to 1127 nm was measured with monochromatic light by using a Xe-lamp at IMO-IMOMEC. The diamond detectors exhibit a photoresponse which lie in the 35–65 mA/W range at 200 nm (corresponding to an external quantum efficiency of 20–40%) and indicate a visible rejection ratio (200–500 nm) higher than four orders of magnitude.     

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。     

Modelling, simulation and testing of an optomechatronics design of a large radio telescope

An innovative design for a feed support structure for the next generation large radio telescope, based on the idea of integrating mechanical, electronic and optical technologies(OPTOMECHATRONICS), is considered. Theoretical analyses and simulations are carried out. A 5 m experimental model is built to demonstrate the idea. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

太阳和月球射电辐射对40m天线数据接收影响分析

利用标准射电源和标准噪声源,对宁静太阳和月球射电辐射的噪声温度进行了测量,估计它们对40m天线接收绕月卫星信号的影响,结论是:(1)40m天线指向偏离太阳超过2°时,能够满足正常数据接收要求;(2)40m天线指向月球时,系统接收的噪声温度增加值为87.1K, 此时系统的总噪声温度能够满足正常数据接收要求.     

Model Validation and Performance Evaluation for The Multi-Tethered Aerostat Subsystem of the Large Adaptive Reflector

The Canadian design for the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope includes a large multi-tethered aerostat to support the telescope’s receiver. To validate this design concept, two parallel tracks have been undertaken: a numerical simulation of the multi-tethered aerostat system has been assembled, and a one-third scale prototype of the system has been constructed. This paper describes the experimental facility, presents results from initial tests of the uncontrolled system and compares these results to the predictions of the computer model of the system. Generally, the results compare very favourably. Using the simulation, we arrive at two important design philosophies to be used in the design of the full-scale system: (a) perturbations on the confluence point should be minimized, and (b) the system stiffness should be maximized to ensure minimum response to disturbances.     

基于Mark5B＋GPU脉冲星观测系统

云南天文台40m射电望远镜进行的脉冲星观测数据量巨大,必须实现数据的实时处理,否则将会产生海量的数据积压.为实现这一目标,采用图形处理器架构,对Mark5B数据进行解码、消色散、折叠等处理.实验结果表明,对以1s8MB的实时采样,可以在0.51s内处理完成,从而实现了实时处理的要求.首先介绍这一观测系统各部分的图形处理器实现,然后相对于传统中央处理器构架,对各部分的运算速度进行了详细的对比.针对时间开销最大的消色散部分,分析了单次傅里叶变换的数据量大小对执行效率的影响.从系统最终的输出轮廓和柱状图上可以看到实时处理的结果符合要求.最后对存在的问题和未来的工作进行了讨论.     

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。     

Dish Verification Antenna China for the SKA:design,verification and status

The Square Kilometre Array(SKA) will be the world’s largest synthesis radio telescope, which is designed to answer major scientific questions such as those relating to the cosmic origin and fundamental forces in the universe. With the SKA entering into the phase of pre-construction, more than 100 institutes in about 20 countries including China have been involved in the associated key technology development.The Dish Verification Antenna China(DVA-C) is a concept prototype which has been built to meet the requirements of the SKA’s scientific goals. It utilizes a unique skin-and-rib structure with single-piece panel reflectors. This paper presents details on the design and measured performances of DVA-C, as well as the preliminary observational results. Current applications of the DVA-C are also introduced.     

Scintillating Oils and Compatible Materials for Next Generation of Electron Anti-neutrino Detectors, After Double Chooz

The Double Chooz reactor neutrino experiment will be built in the forthcoming years. Eventhough not dedicated to geo-neutrino detection, it is based on similar experimental methods. By pushing current technology to the limits an unprecedented precision will be reached due to careful reduction and control of systematic errors below the percent level. The experience and technical innovation achieved by this project could be valuable for future geo-neutrino experiments. After discussing the Double Chooz detector design we focus on progress achieved on scintillating oils and compatible materials.     

PEPSI: The high‐resolution échelle spectrograph and polarimeter for the Large Binocular Telescope

PEPSI is the bench‐mounted, two‐arm, fibre‐fed and stabilized Potsdam Echelle Polarimetric and Spectroscopic Instrument for the 2×8.4 m Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). Three spectral resolutions of either 43 000, 120 000 or 270 000 can cover the entire optical/red wavelength range from 383 to 907 nm in three exposures. Two 10.3k×10.3k CCDs with 9‐µm pixels and peak quantum efficiencies of 94–96 % record a total of 92 échelle orders. We introduce a new variant of a wave‐guide image slicer with 3, 5, and 7 slices and peak efficiencies between 92–96 %. A total of six cross dispersers cover the six wavelength settings of the spectrograph, two of them always simultaneously. These are made of a VPH‐grating sandwiched by two prisms. The peak efficiency of the system, including the telescope, is 15 % at 650 nm, and still 11 % and 10 % at 390 nm and 900 nm, respectively. In combination with the 110 m² light‐collecting capability of the LBT, we expect a limiting magnitude of ≈20th mag in V in the low‐resolution mode. The R = 120 000 mode can also be used with two, dual‐beam Stokes IQUV polarimeters. The 270 000‐mode is made possible with the 7‐slice image slicer and a 100‐µm fibre through a projected sky aperture of 0.74″, comparable to the median seeing of the LBT site. The 43 000‐mode with 12‐pixel sampling per resolution element is our bad seeing or faint‐object mode. Any of the three resolution modes can either be used with sky fibers for simultaneous sky exposures or with light from a stabilized Fabry‐Pérot étalon for ultra‐precise radial velocities. CCD‐image processing is performed with the dedicated data‐reduction and analysis package PEPSI‐S4S. Its full error propagation through all image‐processing steps allows an adaptive selection of parameters by using statistical inferences and robust estimators. A solar feed makes use of PEPSI during day time and a 500‐m feed from the 1.8 m VATT can be used when the LBT is busy otherwise. In this paper, we present the basic instrument design, its realization, and its characteristics. Some pre‐commissioning first‐light spectra shall demonstrate the basic functionality. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)