A near-infrared fabry-perot imager at CRL 1.5m telescope and the structure and velocity field of shocked H2 emission in orion KL region

We have developed a near-infrared Fabry-Perot imager at the Nasmyth focus of the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL) 1.5 m telescope at Tokyo. Using this wide field Fabry-Perot imager, we obtained continuum-subtracted images of the H₂ v=1–0 S(1) line for the Orion KL region.     

The Coude Echelle Spectrograph for the Lijiang 1.8 m telescope

The Coude Echelle Spectrograph(CES) was originally mounted on Xinglong 2.16 m telescope in 1994. When the High Resolution Fiber-fed Spectrograph(HRS) was commissioned at Xinglong 2.16 m telescope, the red path of CES was moved to Lijiang 1.8 m telescope, following some redesign and reinstallation. The CES of Lijiang 1.8 m telescope has the spectral resolution(R = λ/?λ) ranging from 20000 to 50000 corresponding to different slit widths. With a 2 k×2 k PI CCD, CES has a wavelength coverage between 570 nm to 1030 nm. In particular, the resolution of 37000 at 0.5 mm slit corresponds to 1.3′′on the sky. The limiting magnitude is V = 11.5 with the use of the tip-tilt feedback system, and the S/N is about 40 for 1 hour exposure at 600 nm(R = 37000). During the installation of CES, the tip-tilt mirror technology had successfully fulfilled high precision guiding and tracking for high resolution spectral observation and significantly improved the observation efficiency.     

Calibration of the Cherenkov telescope array using cosmic ray electrons

Cosmic ray electrons represent a background for gamma-ray observations with Cherenkov telescopes, initiating air-showers which are difficult to distinguish from photon-initiated showers. This similarity, however, and the presence of cosmic ray electrons in every field observed, makes them potentially very useful for calibration purposes. Here we study the precision with which the relative energy scale and collection area/efficiency for photons can be established using electrons for a major next generation instrument such as CTA. We find that variations in collection efficiency on hour timescales can be corrected to better than 1%. Furthermore, the break in the electron spectrum at ∼ 0.9 TeV can be used to calibrate the energy scale at the 3% level on the same timescale. For observations on the order of hours, statistical errors become negligible below a few TeV and allow for an energy scale cross-check with instruments such as CALET and AMS. Cosmic ray electrons therefore provide a powerful calibration tool, either as an alternative to intensive atmospheric monitoring and modelling efforts, or for independent verification of such procedures.     

Design of the cryogenic system of the wideband phased array feed for QTT

Phased array feeds(PAFs),which illuminate the dish with digitally synthesized beams instead of separated horns,provide the capability for wider and continuous field-of-view surveys.As a promising technology for next generation radio telescopes,PAFs will provide the Qi Tai Telescope(QTT),which will be next world-class fully steerable radio telescope,an opportunity of reaching several cutting-edge science goals.This paper presents a brief introduction of the wideband PAF for QTT,and the detailed design and simulation of the cryogenic system.Based on this design,a scaled prototype of the spherical vacuum window,which is the key part of the cryogenic system,has been built and the performance is verified.     

VRI photometry of M67 for CCD standardization at 2.3m VBT

We present the results from CCD photometry in theV, R andI bands, of the ‘Dipper Asterism’ region of the open cluster M67 based on observations carried out at the prime focus of the 2.3 m Vainu Bappu Telescope of the Vainu Bappu Observatory, Kavalur. The CCD parameters like the system gain and the readout noise are measured using several flatfield frames taken through the standardI filter. The CCD chip is calibrated using the photometric standards in the field and linear colour transformation relations are derived. Also a few newVRI photometric measurements are reported for the members of the cluster.     

Fibre optics at the 4.2 m telescope (WHT)

We summarize some of the work on optical fibres carried out at the 4.2 m (WHT) telescope. We will briefly describe the Fibre Linked Experimental spectrograph.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

The performance of the Apache Point Observatory 3.5 m telescope

The Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5 m telescope facility on Apache Point (2800 m above sea level) near the National Solar Observatory in southern New Mexico is nearing completion. The telescope mount has been installed and testing and fabrication of remaining subassemblies are underway. Thef/1.75 lightweight honeycomb primary mirror was cast April 1988 by the Steward Observatory Mirror Laboratory and is currently being figured.The 3.5 m optical telescope is an altitude over azimuth mechanical structure with Ritchey-Chrétien optics. The lightweight (1800 kg) mirror leads to a mount weighting only 41000 kg; readily available rolling element bearings are used to achieve the necessary performance at low cost and without the heat dissipation of externally pressurized types. Drive torques are applied by DC servo-driven capstans. These are coupled by friction to large diameter drive disks on each axis. No gears are used. Position feedback comes from low cost incremental encoders, also capstan coupled.We have recently completed a series of measurements of the telescope mount. These measurements show that the telescope is very stiff; the lowest natural frequencies are about 7.2 Hz. Initial tracking performance is good and the mount shows high resistance to wind-induced vibration. Our experience during acceptance testing suggests that routine power spectral analysis of drive motor torque and other parameters could be an important tool in the early detection of failures.Paper presented at the Symposium on the JNLT and Related Engineering Developments, Tokyo, November 29–December 2, 1988.     

A specialized polar telescope for cosmology: POST

Study of evolution of galaxies, of transient events such as supernovae and large scale structures at redshifts greater than unity implies observing in a small sky area with a dedicated telescope. A fixed primary mirror aimed at the celestial pole seems the best way to yearly accumulate enough observation time. After earlier proposals made by Soviet and American astronomers, an European group intends to use an existing 3.50m Italian mirror to build a specialized, spectroscopic, polar telescope named POST.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Gamma-ray burst measurements with A 6.3 m2 array

Two flights from Alice Springs, Australia, were achieved in November 1977 and November 1978 with a plastic scintillator -burst detector, effective area 6.3 m², thickness 5 cm, energy response in the range 50 keV to 2 MeV. In 33 hr of good, high altitude data, two bursts were detected, yielding a rate corrected to an isotropic flux of at a size of 8.5×10^–9 erg cm^–2. One event, seen at 22.14 on 15 Nov 1978, was confirmed by spacecraft measurements. The second, too small to be detected by spacecraft, arrived from 0 hr RA, –13.2° Decl. ±12° and possibly comes from a confirmed -burst source location. A galactic origin with a source distribution originating from a relatively thick disk, is favoured by these results.     

A configuration for future giant telescope

A configuration for the Future Giant Telescope is proposed. It is a 30m telescope with segmented primary mirror and alt-azimuth mounting. The aspherical f/1.2 primary mirror is made up of 1095 partial annular submirrors. The optical system includes a Nasmyth system, a coude system and a wide field system. The Nasmyth system has a novel design with four mirrors and provides a ∼10 arcmin field of diffraction-limited images, a much larger field than can be obtained by the traditional Nasmyth system. Several diffraction-limited observations each over a small field, can be carried out simultaneously. By applying active optics to change the shape, tip, tilt and piston of the submirrors, thereby to effect a new aspherical surface of the primary, excellent quality images can be obtained for the coude system and the wide field system. The wide field system has a field of 25 arcmin, the focal surface is only slightly curved and the atmospheric dispersion could be corrected. The tolerances of the surface shape and position for the submirrors, and the telescope mounting and structure are also discussed. The innovations in this configuration should have a general significance for future giant telescopes.     

Astrometry of three near Earth asteroids with the Lijiang 2.4 m telescope

Under the framework of observational campaigns organized by the GAIA Follow Up Network for Solar System Objects, three near Earth asteroids, 367943 Duende, 99942 Apophis and 2013 TV135, were observed with the Lijiang 2.4 m telescope administered by Yunnan Observatories. The software package PRISM was used to calibrate the CCD fields and measure the positions of 99942 Apophis and2013 TV135, and our own software was used for 367943 Duende. A comparison of the results show that the ephemerides of INPOP10 a and JPL are consistent for99942 Apophis and 2013 TV135, however, they are quite inconsistent for 367943 Duende. Moreover, we have found that differences between the mean values in the ephemerides of INPOP10 a and JPL are about 72 and-199 in right ascension and declination respectively for 367943 Duende. Moreover, the ephemeris published by JPL is reliable in terms of the mean observed-minus-calculated(O- C) residuals in right ascension and declination of about 2.72 and 1.49 respectively.     

A means for improving telescope derives

In seeking to minimize local seeing, some large telescopes are being planned with less wind protection than has been traditional and some sites with very good seeing appear to suffer significantly from ground-transmitted vibration. A great care is needed in designing new telescopes to ensure that vibration does not become a dominant cause of image degradation. A supplementary drive system is proposed which could improve on past tracking performances even in such adverse conditions. The system may also reduce the costs of very large telescopes by easing the demands on the stiffness and accuracy of their mountings and drives.Paper presented at the Symposium on JNLT and Related Engineering Developments, Tokyo, November 29–December 2, 1988.     

First light for the sodium laser guide star adaptive optics system on the Lijiang 1.8m telescope

A first generation sodium Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics System(LGS-AOS) was developed and integrated into the Lijiang 1.8 m telescope in 2013. The LGS-AOS has three sub-systems:(1) a 20 W long pulsed sodium laser,(2) a 300-millimeter-diameter laser launch telescope, and(3) a 37-element compact adaptive optics system. On 2014 January 25, we obtained high resolution images of an mV8.18 star,HIP 43963, during the first light of the LGS-AOS. In this paper, the sodium laser, the laser launch telescope,the compact adaptive optics system and the first light results will be presented.     

A double-channel photometer for the Swedish ESO submillimeter telescope

A double channel (1.2 and 2 mm) photometer has been installed at the focus of the 15m SEST antenna in Chile to perform measurements of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect towards X-ray ROSAT clusters. This paper describes the instrument and the characteristics of the system: its sensitivity, field of view, noise and the performed calibrations.     

A faint object spectrometer for the infrared

A cryogenic astronomical spectrometer for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility is described. This spectrometer will employ an array of at least 20 detectors and provide a resolving power of 100 to 1500 at 1–5 m. The resolving power will be adjustable by changing gratings.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.     

Development of image motion compensation system for 1.3 m telescope at Vainu Bappu Observatory

We developed a tip-tilt system to compensate the turbulence induced image motion for the 1.3 m telescope at Vainu Bappu Observatory, at Kavalur. The instrument is designed to operate at the visible wavelength band(480-700 nm) with a field of view of 1′× 1′. The tilt corrected images have demonstrated up to ≈ 57% improvement in image resolution and a corresponding peak intensity increase by a factor of≈ 2.8. A closed-loop correction bandwidth of ≈ 26 Hz has been achieved with on-sky tests and the root mean square motion of the star image has been reduced by a factor of ~ 14. These results are consistent with theoretical and numerical predictions of wave-front aberrations caused by atmospheric turbulence and image quality improvement expected from a real-time control system. In this paper, we present details of the instrument design, laboratory calibration studies and quantify its performance on the telescope.     

A digital correlation receiver for the GEETEE radio telescope

A 128-channel digital correlation receiver has been built for the GEETEE 1, the low-frequency radio telescope situated at Gauribidanur, South India, (latitude 13°36′12′′ N). The receiver uses a modified doublesideband (DSB) technique. The quadrature samples required for a DSB system are obtained by sampling the digitized intermediate frequency (I.F.) signals by two clocks which are separated in time by one quarter of the period of the I.F. The visibilities required for one-dimensional synthesis are measured using one-bit correlators. A technique to measure amplitude information for the signal using a threshold detector and a one-bit correlator has been developed. The receiver has been successfully used for continuum, spectral-line and pulsar observations. The antenna system of GEETEE and its configuration for one dimensional synthesis are also described in this paper This telescope is jointly operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore and the Raman Research Institute, Bangalore.