An active fiber sensor for mirror vibration metrology in astronomical interferometers

We present a fiber sensor based on an active integrated component which could be effectively used to measure the longitudinal vibration modes of telescope mirrors in an interferometric array. We demonstrate the possibility to measure vibrations with frequencies up to ⋍100 Hz with a precision better than 10 nm (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

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).     

A concept for a superconducting tunnelling junction based spectrograph

We describe a multi-order spectrograph concept suitable for 8-m class telescopes, using the intrinsic spectral resolution of superconducting tunnelling junction detectors to sort the spectral orders. The spectrograph works at low orders, 1–5 or 1–6, and provides spectral coverage with a resolving power of   R ≃ 8000  from the atmospheric cut-off at 320 nm to the long-wavelength end of the infrared H or K band at 1800 nm or 2400 nm. We calculate that the spectrograph would provide substantial throughput and wavelength coverage, together with high time resolution and sufficient dynamic range. The concept uses currently available technology, or technologies with short development horizons, restricting the spatial sampling to two linear arrays; however, an upgrade path to provide more spatial sampling is identified. All of the other challenging aspects of the concept – the cryogenics, thermal baffling and magnetic field biasing – are identified as being feasible.     

A detailed view on the kinematics of candidate intermediate luminosity early‐type galaxies with a lack of dark matter

In several nearby L ∼ L_* early‐type galaxies, recent observations at large radii have shown indications of a lack of dark matter, substantially at odds with the prediction from the Cold Dark Matter (CDM) hierarchical merger models. Here we discuss a pilot observational project for the study of the internal kinematical and dynamical properties of this remarkable sample of galaxies. Using the VIMOS‐IFU in its high spectral resolution mode, it would be possible to investigate the regions up to ∼1.2 R_e, taking advantage of the much larger field of view and telescope diameter. This will allow to disclose the presence of any kinematical substructures which could affect the conclusion on the mass modeling and definitely clarify the inner structure of this particular class of early‐type galaxies. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Pixel-based correction for Charge Transfer Inefficiency in the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys

Charge Transfer Inefficiency (CTI) due to radiation damage above the Earth's atmosphere creates spurious trailing in Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) images. Radiation damage also creates unrelated warm pixels – but these happen to be perfect for measuring CTI. We model CTI in the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS)/Wide Field Channel and construct a physically motivated correction scheme. This operates on raw data, rather than secondary science products, by returning individual electrons to pixels from which they were unintentionally dragged during readout. We apply our correction to images from the HST Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS), successfully reducing the CTI trails by a factor of ∼30 everywhere in the CCD and at all flux levels. We quantify changes in galaxy photometry, astrometry and shape. The remarkable 97 per cent level of correction is more than sufficient to enable a (forthcoming) reanalysis of downstream science products and the collection of larger surveys.     

Properties of optical fibres at cryogenic temperatures

A perhaps surprising property of optical fibres is that they remain flexible at cryogenic temperatures. This implies that they may be used for multiple-object and integral field spectroscopy in the thermal infrared in cryogenic instrumentation. In this paper the results of performance tests of optical fibres (silica and zirconium fluoride) at cryogenic temperatures are presented. By mounting the fibres in glass tubes with the appropriate adhesive, it was found that only negligible focal ratio degradation occurs when the fibre is cooled to 77 K.     

Optimal instrumentation of uncertain structural systems subject to earthquake ground motions

A criterion is proposed for making decisions regarding the optimal location of a given number of sensors to record the seismic response of a structure for identification purposes. The optimal location of the sensors is selected so that the expected value of a Bayesian loss function, expressed in terms of the Fisher information in the recordings, is minimized. The criterion is applied to the case of multi-degree-of-freedom systems with uncertain structural properties subjected to earthquake ground motions modelled as stationary stochastic processes. The use and capabilities of the criterion are thoroughly illustrated by means of an example. Results are used to assess the influence of record duration, recording noise, and ground motion frequency content and amplitude, on the optimal location of accelerometers as well as on the reduction of prior uncertainty about the structural parameters. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radon in soil anomaly observed at Los Azufres geothermal field,Michoacan: a possible precursor of the 1985 Mexico earthquake (Ms = 8.1)

A radon anomaly in a nuclear track detector placed on a fault was detected prior to the destructive (Ms = 8.1) Mexican earthquake of 19 September 1985. The fault is a structural feature of the geothermal field Los Azufres, 260 km NE of the epicentral area. Since no other phenomenon can be found as a possible cause for the radon anomaly, it is proposed that preseismic regional stress perturbations may produce changes in the fluid transport patterns at the fault, suggesting that radon measurements in similar conditions could provide a good precursor in high seismic risk areas.     

CTK‐II & RTK: The CCD‐cameras operated at the auxiiary telescopes of the University Observatory Jena

The Cassegrain‐Teleskop‐Kamera (CTK‐II) and the Refraktor‐Teleskop‐Kamera (RTK) are two CCD‐imagers which are operated at the 25 cm Cassegrain and 20cm refractor auxiliary telescopes of the University Observatory Jena. This article describes the main characteristics of these instruments. The properties of the CCD‐detectors, the astrometry, the image quality, and the detection limits of both CCD‐cameras, as well as some results of ongoing observing projects, carried out with these instruments, are presented. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

HY-1A卫星COCTS数据条带消除的两种定量化方法比较

HY-1A卫星是中国第一颗海洋遥感卫星,水色水温扫描仪(COCTS)是其主要探测器。由于各探测单元的信号响应特性不同,导致COCTS数据含有大量条带噪声。这严重影响了图像的质量和可视性,对资料的定量化应用也是十分不利的。为了解决这个问题,本研究采用矩匹配及直方图匹配法,对COCTS数据进行条带消除。结果表明,两种方法都是有效的,能够在消除条带的同时保持数据原有的物理意义,并避免细节特征的丢失。但是从整体效果看,直方图匹配法更好一些。本研究的结果同样适用于其他以并扫方式获取数据的遥感器的条带消除。