Design and development of the HARMONI spectrograph and study of Jovian satellites
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
This thesis focuses on advancing the design of HARMONI, the first light integral field spectrograph for the 39 metre Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) currently being built by the European Southern Observatory (ESO). HARMONI will produce data which will enable ground breaking investigations in Astronomy and Solar System Science following the first light in 2025. This thesis project contributes significantly to the success of the larger instrument and will therefore have a high impact on the research which will be enabled by HARMONI in the coming years. In this way, the thesis advances the Building International Influence strategic theme. Additionally, by advancing the technologies and methods required to build such instruments, this project will improve the outcomes of future instruments.
The thesis project includes an observational investigation of Jovian moons using the MUSE instrument on ESO's VLT with the objectives of determining their surface composition and better understanding integral field spectroscopy. This research falls within the Astronomy & Space Science Technology research area and is done as part of the HARMONI science team's exploration of Solar System applications for the instrument. Observing with MUSE also highlights the top level requirements for this type of instrument to produce high quality scientific data in this research area.
Additionally, this project contributes directly to the success of HARMONI by advancing laboratory techniques required to assemble refractive cameras operating at cryogenic temperatures. These techniques build on the legacy of KMOS through improved process control and extensive laboratory testing. This experimental work is done in collaboration with members of the HARMONI team at the University of Oxford and STFC's RAL Space.
This thesis also includes experimental investigations into the suitability of commercially available technologies for use in HARMONI. One study looks into the performance and cryogenic survivability of broadband dielectric reflective coatings. If successful, these coatings will significantly increase the fraction of scientific light reaching the detectors in HARMONI. Another study uses a purpose-built radiometric setup to measure optical properties of diffraction gratings, components critical to the overall instrument, at visible and infrared wavelengths. These investigations are done in collaboration with companies including Asahi Spectra, Optics Balzers, Wasatch Photonics, Kaiser Optical, Canon, and Horiba.
The portions of this thesis focused on methods for the cryogenic cameras and the suitability of commercially available technologies fall within the Instrumentation for Particle Physics or Astronomy research area and advance the Developing Advanced Technologies strategic theme.
The thesis project includes an observational investigation of Jovian moons using the MUSE instrument on ESO's VLT with the objectives of determining their surface composition and better understanding integral field spectroscopy. This research falls within the Astronomy & Space Science Technology research area and is done as part of the HARMONI science team's exploration of Solar System applications for the instrument. Observing with MUSE also highlights the top level requirements for this type of instrument to produce high quality scientific data in this research area.
Additionally, this project contributes directly to the success of HARMONI by advancing laboratory techniques required to assemble refractive cameras operating at cryogenic temperatures. These techniques build on the legacy of KMOS through improved process control and extensive laboratory testing. This experimental work is done in collaboration with members of the HARMONI team at the University of Oxford and STFC's RAL Space.
This thesis also includes experimental investigations into the suitability of commercially available technologies for use in HARMONI. One study looks into the performance and cryogenic survivability of broadband dielectric reflective coatings. If successful, these coatings will significantly increase the fraction of scientific light reaching the detectors in HARMONI. Another study uses a purpose-built radiometric setup to measure optical properties of diffraction gratings, components critical to the overall instrument, at visible and infrared wavelengths. These investigations are done in collaboration with companies including Asahi Spectra, Optics Balzers, Wasatch Photonics, Kaiser Optical, Canon, and Horiba.
The portions of this thesis focused on methods for the cryogenic cameras and the suitability of commercially available technologies fall within the Instrumentation for Particle Physics or Astronomy research area and advance the Developing Advanced Technologies strategic theme.
Planned Impact
The UK ELT programme has two main (non-academic) routes to impact: industrial contract return from ESO, including the instrument projects, and public engagement (PE). Both of these are dealt with through dedicated work-packages in the proposal, with further details given in the Pathways to Impact document.
1) Industrial return: The total hardware budget for the telescope construction project at ESO is more than 800MEur and most of that will be procured from industry in the ESO member states. UK companies are eligible to bid for ESO contracts and a major part of the industry engagement programme is to find suitable UK companies to put forward to receive calls for tender. There is still over 100MEur worth of ELT contracts to be let and through past efforts of the programme, UK companies are well placed for a number of specialist supplies in imaging detectors and software. The end goal of the programme is to see contract return to the UK increase so that we maximise our share of the construction budget. Our activities in support of this goal include publicising tender opportunities through email campaigns from the STFC tender opportunities service, targeted meetings with groups of companies and contract-specific events.
2) PE: Astronomy is recognised as a hugely inspiring way to engage the public with the big questions of science, and events such as Stargazing Oxford and Doors Open at Royal Observatory Edinburgh regularly draw thousands of visitors. We will leverage the existing PE programmes of the consortium (including the ROE Visitor Centre, STFC Public Engagement & Communications and Oxford University) and exploit the news value of significant ELT milestones between now and first light. The first phase of the programme will aim to engage audiences with the technology involved in building the ELT and its systems and will concentrate on `awareness raising' with social media campaigns, coordinating with ESO on press releases and embedding the ELT into wider STFC PE activities (e.g. piggybacking on the JWST launch). Subsequent phases will begin to plan activities leading up to telescope first light, and secure additional funding for
resource development and building partnerships with teachers, science centres, and planetaria in preparation for leading a series of national events.
1) Industrial return: The total hardware budget for the telescope construction project at ESO is more than 800MEur and most of that will be procured from industry in the ESO member states. UK companies are eligible to bid for ESO contracts and a major part of the industry engagement programme is to find suitable UK companies to put forward to receive calls for tender. There is still over 100MEur worth of ELT contracts to be let and through past efforts of the programme, UK companies are well placed for a number of specialist supplies in imaging detectors and software. The end goal of the programme is to see contract return to the UK increase so that we maximise our share of the construction budget. Our activities in support of this goal include publicising tender opportunities through email campaigns from the STFC tender opportunities service, targeted meetings with groups of companies and contract-specific events.
2) PE: Astronomy is recognised as a hugely inspiring way to engage the public with the big questions of science, and events such as Stargazing Oxford and Doors Open at Royal Observatory Edinburgh regularly draw thousands of visitors. We will leverage the existing PE programmes of the consortium (including the ROE Visitor Centre, STFC Public Engagement & Communications and Oxford University) and exploit the news value of significant ELT milestones between now and first light. The first phase of the programme will aim to engage audiences with the technology involved in building the ELT and its systems and will concentrate on `awareness raising' with social media campaigns, coordinating with ESO on press releases and embedding the ELT into wider STFC PE activities (e.g. piggybacking on the JWST launch). Subsequent phases will begin to plan activities leading up to telescope first light, and secure additional funding for
resource development and building partnerships with teachers, science centres, and planetaria in preparation for leading a series of national events.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Fraser Clarke (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Andrea Hidalgo Valadez (Student) |