云南天文台三孔较差视宁度监视仪的建立

较详细地讲述了云南天文台三孔较差视宁度监视仪的情况,然而,与一般天文理论和天文技术的专题研究不一样,天文仪器的研制有如说是研究,还不如说是归纳;它不是分析一个具体的尚未解决的难题,而是把许多已知的理论和技术综合起来,构成一台具体的仪器。所以,本文把许多至少是表面上互不相关的理论和技术问题归纳到一篇论文中。仪器是有许多模块组成的,为了看起来逻辑性较强,我们将仪器分模块叙述,全文遵循如下顺序：１在第一篇中,回顾世界各天文台视宁度测量设备的发展史和云南天文台的宁静度测量发展史;２在第二篇中,介绍：１）云南天文台三孔较差视宁度研制任务的来源,仪器的整体状况;２）介绍云南天文台三孔较差视宁度仪的硬件系统;３）介绍云南天文台三孔较差视宁度仪的软件系统;若大模块中有多个小模块,在每一个大模块中,又遵循下述顺序：１）本模块的总体功能;２）构成该模块的基本技术;３）这些基本技术如何构成整体和完成预定功能。３在第三篇中,介绍我们所作的与视宁度测量有关的一些实验和实验结果。     

A site-testing campaign at the Calar Alto Observatory with GSM and DIMM instruments

The main atmospheric optical parameters have been measured at the Calar Alto Observatory simultaneously using the Generalized Seeing Monitor (GSM) and a Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM) during several nights in 2002 May. The temporal evolution of the seeing, the outer scale, the isoplanatic angle and the coherence time have been analysed. There is excellent agreement between the seeing measurements provided by the two instruments, particularly when the turbulence is slow. Indeed, the GSM measurements are corrected from the exposure time when the DIMM data were recorded for at least 5 ms. From almost three years of DIMM (at 5 m height above ground) data, a seeing of 0.92 arcsec with a standard deviation of 0.31 arcsec has been obtained for this site. The outer scale     , the isoplanatic angle  θ₀  and the coherence time  τ₀  measured with the GSM are well fitted with log-normal distributions with median values of 22.9 m, 2.27 arcsec and 3.7 ms, respectively.     

三孔较差视宁度仪的对比观测

三孔较差视宁度仪（ＤＩＭＭ）已在丽江高美古和云南天文台投入观测，我们用云南天文台的一米望远镜测得的视宁度与ＤＩＭＭ所测得的视宁度进行对比。１９９５年上半年获得了５个晚上的资料，测得的结果表明ＤＩＭＭ测量的视宁度与一米望远镜测量的视中度是相关的。二套ＤＩＭＭ也进行了相互校正和对比，共用了８个晚上获得１２５组ｒ０，二套ＤＩＭＭ的视宁度测量值是相关的，二套系统的误差小于１％。     

三孔较差视宁度监视仪及试观测报告

本文介绍了云南天文台研制的三孔较差视宁度监视仪，统计了１９９４年３月至７月期间的试观测情况，及仪器定标和数据处理结果。     

Development of the Automatic Seeing Monitor for the Site Testing of Dome A

The Antarctic site-testing campaigns have shown that Dome C is an excellent astronomical site on the earth, it is better than any of existing mid-latitude astronomical sites in the world, because of its cold and dry weather, low infrared background radiation, continuously observable time as long as 3–4 months, clear and highly transparent atmosphere, low wind speed, and the absence of dust and light pollution. And in the international astronomical community it is generally believed that Dome A with a higher altitude may be better than Dome C as a potential excellent astronomical site. In the past 3 years, although held by the Center for Antarctic Astronomy of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the site testing at Dome A has preliminarily con?rmed the many advantages of Dome A as an excellent astronomical site, but the data about the atmospheric seeing, which is an important parameter for assessing the site quality for optical observations, have not been obtained until now. Hence, on the basis of a commercial telescope with the diameter of 35 cm, we have made the hardware reformation and software development to have it operate as a DIMM (Differential Image Motion Monitor), which can simultaneously monitor both the seeing and isoplanatic angle at Dome A automatically. At present this instrument has been shipped to Antarctica by the “Xuelong” exploration ship, and will be installed at Dome A, and begin to work in early 2011. Before the shipment, by through the comparative measurements together with an existing seeing monitor at the Xinglong astronomical station, the software, hardware, as well as the installation and adjustment of the instrument, are further veri?ed by testing.     

OSIRIS software: the Mask Designer Tool

OSIRIS is a Day One instrument that will be available at the 10m GTC telescope which is being built at La Palma observatory in the Canary Islands. This optical instrument is designed to obtain wide-field narrow-band images using tunable filters and to do low-resolution spectroscopy in both long-slit and multislit modes. For the multislit spectroscopy mode, we have developed a software to assist the observers to design focal plane masks. In this paper we describe the characteristics of this Mask Designer tool. We discuss the main design concepts, the functionality and particular features of the software.     

云南天文台DIMM的视宁度测量和评估

为对三孔ＤＩＭＭ数据的可靠性有进一步认识，作者对所用ＣＣＤ的曝光时间、不同大小的子瞳以及风向对观测结果的影响等方面做了试验，还进行了ＤＩＭＭ结果与一米望远镜的星像轮廓结果的比对。     

The Durham/ESO SLODAR optical turbulence profiler

An instrument for monitoring of the vertical profile of atmospheric optical turbulence strength, employing the Slope Detection and Ranging (SLODAR) double star technique applied to a small telescope, has been developed by Durham University and the European South Observatory. The system has been deployed at the Cerro Paranal observatory in Chile for statistical characterization of the site. The instrument is configured to sample the turbulence at altitudes below 1.5 km with a vertical resolution of approximately 170 m. The system also functions as a general-purpose seeing monitor, measuring the integrated optical turbulence strength for the whole atmosphere, and hence the seeing width. We give technical details of the prototype and present data to characterize its performance. Comparisons with contemporaneous measurements from a differential image motion monitor (DIMM) and a multi-aperture scintillation sensor (MASS) are discussed. Statistical results for the optical turbulence profile at the Paranal site are presented. We find that, in the median case, 49 per cent of the total optical turbulence strength is associated with the surface layer (below 100 m), 35 per cent with the 'free atmosphere' (above 1500 m) and 16 per cent with the intermediate altitudes (100–1500 m).     

云南天文台丽江高美古和昆明的大气视宁度研究

研究云南天文台昆明凤凰山和丽江高美古两地点的大气视宁度。利用云南天文台于1994年建立的3孔较差视宁度监视仪（3孔DIMM），对这两个地点的视宁度对比观测。还利用云南天文台的1米望远镜所得到的视宁度与3孔DIMM所测的视宁度进行对比。1米望远镜和3孔DIMM同时观测了7个晚上，各取得308组数据，它们的视宁度平均分别为0．90〃和0．84〃。还讨论了3孔DIMM采用不同曝光时间对视宁度测量值的影响，从实验得出3孔DIMM采用20ms曝光比采用8ms曝光所测视宁度的值要好15％左右。从1995年5月－1996年12月，对丽江高美古和昆明凤凰山二地进行了视宁度的对比观测。在高美古和昆明分别观测了234夜和256夜，观测结果是两个点的视宁度平均；丽江为0．70〃，昆明为0．95〃，同时也统计了两个点的月平均视宁度和最好夜的视宁度，并讨论了两地视宁度随时间的变化规律。     

NIGHTGLOW: an instrument to measure the Earth’s nighttime ultraviolet glow—results from the first engineering flight

We have designed and built an instrument to measure and monitor the “nightglow” of the Earth’s atmosphere in the near ultraviolet (NUV). In this paper we describe the design of this instrument, called NIGHTGLOW. NIGHTGLOW is designed to be flown from a high altitude research balloon, and circumnavigate the globe. NIGHTGLOW is a NASA, University of Utah, and New Mexico State University project. A test flight took place from Palestine, Texas on July 5, 2000, lasting about 8 h. The instrument performed well and landed safely in Stiles, Texas with little damage. The resulting measurements of the NUV nightglow are compared with previous measurements from sounding rockets and balloons.     

A rotating differential accelerometer for testing the equivalence principle in space: results from laboratory tests of a ground prototype

We have proposed to test the equivalence principle (EP) in low Earth orbit with a rapidly rotating differential accelerometer (made of weakly coupled concentric test cylinders) whose rotation provides high frequency signal modulation and avoids severe limitations otherwise due to operation at room temperature [PhRvD 63 (2001) 101101]. Although the accelerometer has been conceived for best performance in absence of weight, we have designed, built and tested a variant of it at 1-g. Here we report the results of measurements performed so far. Losses measured with the full system in operation yield a quality factor only four times smaller than the value required for the proposed high accuracy EP test in space. Unstable whirl motions, which are known to arise in the system and might be a matter of concern, are found to grow as slowly as predicted and can be stabilized. The capacitance differential read-out (the mechanical parts, electronics and software for data analysis) is in all similar to what is needed in the space experiment. In the instrument described here the coupling of the test masses is 24 000 times stiffer than in the one proposed for flight, which makes it 24 000 times less sensitive to differential displacements. With this stiffness it should detect test masses separations of 1.5·10⁻² μm, while so far we have achieved only 1.5 μm, because of large perturbations—due to the motor, the ball bearings, the non-perfect verticality of the system—all of which, however, are absent in space. The effects of these perturbations should be reduced by 100 times in order to perform a better demonstration. Further instrument improvements are underway to fill this gap and also to reduce its stiffness, thus increasing its significance as a prototype of the space experiment.     

Understanding the behaviour of X-shooter via the application of a physical model

We show how traditional instrument quality control trending can be augmented by the use of a physical instrument model. The ESO VLT archive contains a detailed record of instrument diagnostics and calibration parameters while ESO quality control monitors changes in critical parameters. The physical model allows changes in positions, orientations and other physical properties of a spectrograph to be determined from standard wavelength calibration exposures via an optimisation process that seeks the physical model parameters that best reproduce the calibration features in the data. We introduce physical model parameters to the quality control monitoring. When applying this technique to archived calibration exposures, we find that the results are sensitive to the combination of parameters open to the optimisation process. Therefore we determine the most favourable set of physical parameters to optimise for each arm. We then show correlations between several physical parameters and instrument temperature sensor readings and epoch. In addition we find clear discontinuities in some physical parameter values that correspond to known maintenance events.     

Intensity variation of cosmic rays near the heliospheric current sheet

Cosmic ray intensity variations near the heliospheric current sheet—both above and below it—have been studied during 1964–1976. Superposed epoch analysis of the cosmic ray neutron monitor data with respect to sector boundaries (i.e., heliospheric current sheet crossings) has been performed. In this analysis we have used the data from neutron monitors well distributed in latitude over the Earth's surface. First, this study has been made during the two solar activity minimum periods 1964–1965 and 1975–1976, using the data from Thule (cut-off rigidity 0 GV), Deep River (cut-off rigidity 1.02 GV), Rome (cut-off rigidity 6.32 GV) and Huancayo (cut-off rigidity 13.45 GV) neutron monitors. We have also analyzed the data from Deep River, Rome and Huancayo neutron monitors, for whom we have the data for full period (1964–1976), by dividing the periods according to the changes in solar activity, interplanetary magnetic field polarity and coronal holes. All these studies have shown a negative gradient with respect to heliomagnetic latitude (current sheet). These results have been discussed in the light of theoretical and observational evidences. Suggestions have been given to overcome the discrepancy between the observational and theoretical results. Further, possible explanations for these observational results have been suggested.     

中国第三次天文台选址高潮及对丽江高美古地区天文观测条件的初步估计

本文介绍了中国第三次天文台选址高潮的背景及最近这次台址调研的进展情况。天文气候条件普查的结果认为在中国挑选出受局部地形影响的较好台址是有可能的。报道了对华北和西北若干候选点进行踏勘和测量的结果。详细介绍了在滇西地区的选址普查和丽江高美古选址观测的经过。据云量和ＤＩＭＭ视宁度观测的初步结果来看，高美古是一个很有希望的潜在优良台址。     

A Review of Daytime Atmospheric Optical Turbulence Profile Detection Technology

Atmospheric turbulence has been confirmed as the primary source affecting the quality of ground-based telescope image. To reduce the effect of atmosphere, a good site should be selected, and adaptive optics (AO) should be installed for the telescope. In general, the daytime atmospheric turbulence is more intense than that at night under the effect of solar radiation. Numerous solar telescopes have built AO systems worldwide. Conventional AO is only capable of improving the image quality in a small field of view, whereas it cannot satisfy the needs of a large field of view. The novel wide field adaptive optical system is capable of achieving a large field of view and high-resolution images, whereas the atmospheric turbulence profile should be accurately detected, which is the prerequisite and key parameter of the novel AO system. Moreover, the astronomical high-resolution technology in accordance with the turbulence imaging theory requires more detailed detection of turbulence. Accordingly, a brief review about the latest detection technology of the daytime optical turbulence profile is valuable for astronomical observations. Besides, the parameters of atmospheric turbulence are briefly introduced. Subsequently, SNODAR, SHABAR, MOSP, DIMM+, A-MASP, and other detection technologies of the stratified atmospheric turbulence for daytime are primarily presented, and the advantages and disadvantages of the different technologies are summarized.     

Neutron monitor latitude surveys at aircraft altitudes

The Space Research Unit operates four stationary neutron monitors and it has conducted several latitude surveys with mobile neutron monitors. Our sea-level surveys have resulted in a clear identification of drift effects in the modulation. We have also conducted several latitude surveys at aircraft altitudes, the data of which have primarily been used to study the barometric attenuation coefficient of a neutron monitor, as well as cutoff rigidities in the Cape Town Magnetic Anomaly. In this contribution we present differential response functions of these aircraft surveys, and conclude that the drift effect is not detectable in them.     

Clover – A B-mode polarization experiment

Clover is a new instrument being built to detect the B-mode polarization of the CMB. It consists of three telescopes operating at 97, 150, and 220 GHz and will be sited in Chile at the Llano de Chajnantor. Each telescope assembly is scaled to give a constant beam size of 8″ and feeds an array of between 320 and 512 finline-coupled TES bolometers. Here we describe the design, current status and scientific prospects of the instrument.     

A Heliospheric Imager for Deep Space: Lessons Learned from Helios, SMEI, and STEREO

The zodiacal-light photometers on the twin Helios spacecraft, the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) on the Coriolis spacecraft, and the Heliospheric Imagers (HIs) on the Solar-TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) twin spacecraft all point the way to optimizing future remote-sensing Thomson-scattering observations from deep space. Such data could be provided by wide-angle viewing instruments on Solar Orbiter, Solar Probe, or other deep-space probes. Here, we present instrument specifications required for a successful heliospheric imager, and the measurements and data-processing steps that make the best use of this remote-sensing system. When this type of instrument is properly designed and calibrated, its data are capable of determining zodiacal-dust properties, and of three-dimensional reconstructions of heliospheric electron density over large volumes of the inner heliosphere. Such systems can measure fundamental properties of the inner heliospheric plasma, provide context for the in-situ monitors on board spacecraft, and enable physics-based analyses of this important segment of the Sun-spacecraft connection.     

LOLAS: an optical turbulence profiler in the atmospheric boundary layer with extreme altitude resolution

We report the development and first results of an instrument called Low Layer SCIDAR (Scintillation Detection and Ranging) (LOLAS) which is aimed at the measurement of optical-turbulence profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer with high altitude resolution. The method is based on the Generalized SCIDAR (GS) concept, but unlike the GS instruments which need a 1-m or larger telescope, LOLAS is implemented on a dedicated 40-cm telescope, making it an independent instrument. The system is designed for widely separated double-star targets, which enables the high altitude resolution. Using a 200-arcsec-separation double star, we have obtained turbulence profiles with unprecedented 12-m resolution. The system incorporates necessary novel algorithms for autoguiding, autofocus and image stabilization. The results presented here were obtained at Mauna Kea Observatory. They show LOLAS capabilities but cannot be considered as representative of the site. A forthcoming paper will be devoted to the site characterization. The instrument was built as part of the Ground Layer Turbulence Monitoring Campaign on Mauna Kea for Gemini Observatory.