WEAVE: The WHT Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
WEAVE is a concept for a new wide-field, high multiplex spectroscopy facility for the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope(WHT). WEAVE will equip the WHT with a new medium/high spectral resolution dual-beam optical spectrograph (R=5000/R=20000) that will be fed with up to 1000 simultaneous fibre-optic feeds from a new 2 degree field of view prime-focus instrument. The same spectrograph can also be fed with a large single fibre-based integral field unit (IFU) with a 3x2 arcminute field of view, or with up to 30 small, individually deployable IFUs, each with a 10x12 arcsecond field of view. The main scientific objectives for WEAVE are spectroscopic follow-up of the GAIA catalogue to sample the dynamics and chemical evolution of the Milky Way at faint magnitudes and large radial distances; to study galaxy evolution at modest redshifts (z<0.4) using resolved kinematics of up to 100,000 galaxies with complementary neutral hydrogen observations from the APERTIF instrument at Westerbork, and to study the evolution of the large-scale structure of the Universe and test theories of Dark Energy by means of follow-up observations of the LOFAR medium deep wide-field radio imaging survey.
This proposal covers the initial phase of Oxford's work on the fibre positioning system for the Preliminary Design Phase of WEAVE with the primary objective of developing the complete positioner concept and the interfaces between the positioner system and the telescope top-end ring structure.
This proposal covers the initial phase of Oxford's work on the fibre positioning system for the Preliminary Design Phase of WEAVE with the primary objective of developing the complete positioner concept and the interfaces between the positioner system and the telescope top-end ring structure.
Planned Impact
The structure of the WEAVE consortium explicitly draws in scientific engagement from the wider scientific community through the GAIA-GREAT consortium, the LOFAR collaboration and the close-knit community that works on wide-field cosmological surveys (EUCLID, SDSS). As the WEAVE project develops into the operational phase, we plan a strong community development of the detailed survey programmes (building on the existing WEAVE science team) to maximize the output and impact of the instrument.
The science addressed by WEAVE is, by nature, large-scale science, with a high potential for impact on the scientific understanding available to the wider public in these areas. We will incorporate information on the WEAVE project into existing local and national outreach strategies within Oxford and STFC, and are discussing longer-term plans for incorporating the WEAVE data-sets into Oxford's groundbreaking citizen science programme (www.zooniverse.org).
The science addressed by WEAVE is, by nature, large-scale science, with a high potential for impact on the scientific understanding available to the wider public in these areas. We will incorporate information on the WEAVE project into existing local and national outreach strategies within Oxford and STFC, and are discussing longer-term plans for incorporating the WEAVE data-sets into Oxford's groundbreaking citizen science programme (www.zooniverse.org).
Organisations
- University of Oxford (Lead Research Organisation)
- Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Astrophysics (Collaboration)
- National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (Collaboration)
- University of Groningen (Collaboration)
- Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- Nice Observatory (Collaboration)
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Collaboration)
- Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) (Collaboration)
- Liverpool John Moores University (Collaboration)
- Nova Southeastern University (Collaboration)
- Observatory of Paris (Collaboration)
- Konkoly Observatory (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Gavin Dalton (Principal Investigator) | |
Ian Lewis (Researcher) |
Publications
Costantin L
(2019)
A few StePS forward in unveiling the complexity of galaxy evolution: light-weighted stellar ages of intermediate-redshift galaxies with WEAVE
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bonifacio P
(2011)
GYES, A Multifibre Spectrograph for the CFHT
in EAS Publications Series
Drake A
(2013)
Evolution of star formation in the UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey field - I. Luminosity functions and cosmic star formation rate out to z = 1.6
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Yabe K
(2014)
The mass-metallicity relation at z ~ 1.4 revealed with Subaru/FMOS?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gilbert J.
(2016)
Verification of Commercial Motor Performance for WEAVE at the William Herschel Telescope
in Multi-Object Spectroscopy in the Next Decade: Big Questions, Large Surveys, and Wide Fields
Ham S. J.
(2016)
Towards an Integrated Model of the WEAVE Performance
in Multi-Object Spectroscopy in the Next Decade: Big Questions, Large Surveys, and Wide Fields
Dalton G.
(2016)
WEAVE: The Next Generation Spectroscopy Facility for the WHT
in Multi-Object Spectroscopy in the Next Decade: Big Questions, Large Surveys, and Wide Fields
Bonifacio P.
(2016)
WEAVE an overview and status update
in SF2A-2016: Proceedings of the Annual meeting of the French Society of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Ciardullo R
(2013)
THE HETDEX PILOT SURVEY. IV. THE EVOLUTION OF [O II] EMITTING GALAXIES FROM z ~ 0.5 TO z ~ 0
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gebhardt K
(2021)
The Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) Survey Design, Reductions, and Detections*
in The Astrophysical Journal
Description | We have developed the concept for a new high-multiplex spectroscopy facility for the William Herschel Telescope which will be capable of providing follow-up spectroscopy for ESA's Gaia mission and Europe's LOFAR radio telescope array. The instrument has now proceeded to final design with full funding secured from all partners, and is now entering the construction phase. |
Exploitation Route | This work is now being taken to full construction and deployment of the facility, which will be in operation from 2019. |
Sectors | Education Other |
Description | EU Tender |
Amount | € 300,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | Spain |
Start | 08/2015 |
End | 12/2015 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | Konkoly Observatory |
Country | Hungary |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | Liverpool John Moores University |
Department | Astrophysics Research Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | National Institute for Astrophysics |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics |
Country | Mexico |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | Nice Observatory |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | Nova Southeastern University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | Observatory of Paris |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Department | United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | Institute of Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | WEAVE |
Organisation | University of Groningen |
Department | Kapteyn Astronomical Institute |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator |
Collaborator Contribution | Various work packages |
Impact | WEAVE project documentation |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | IET Presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Outreach presentation and discussion on technology developments in WEAVE and Gaia. Request for more talks to this and other organisations |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | School Visit (Christ Church) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Introduction to the Milky Way talk for 60 pupils in years 5-8 followed by lengthy discussion and multiple follow up correspondences. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | School Visit (OHS) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 60 pupils in year 5. Talk to the whole year on how we explore the Universe with some insights into upcoming facilities and possibilities.. Coordinated with the school as an input to a wider science topic on 'space' |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | School visit (Abingdon) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Talk on Dark Matter and Cosmology to 45 sixth form students at the Abingdon School. Warmly received. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Talk for Continuing Education department |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A presentation on developments of the use of Light in Astronomy as part of the International Year of Light to interested members of the general public attending a saturday workshop at the department of continuing education (Rewley House) in Oxford. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/F900-34 |