Compact designs for high-resolution astronomical spectrometers
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Astronomy Unit
Abstract
Astronomical spectrometers for detailed exoplanet studies need to be broad band, highly efficient, high resolution and extremely mechanically stable. These design constraints can be satisfied with an 'echelle' spectrometer design which consists on a high dispersion grating combined with a prism to separate the diffraction orders. These instruments already exist but they are bulky (size of a car) and difficult to maintain (large vacuum/tempeature controled enclosures, ~3 m^3 volumes). In this project the student will design compact spectrometers of a few tens of cm is size which then will be coupled to telescopes using optical fibres and basic adaptive optics systems. The project will consist on optical designing the device, optimize the optics to minimize aberrations, perform its mechanical design and minimize effects of thermal expansion using novel materials (carbon fibre composites) and demonstrate the performance of the instrument using on-sky measurements.
People |
ORCID iD |
Guillem Anglada Escude (Primary Supervisor) | |
Clark Baker (Student) |
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ST/N504257/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2021 | |||
1783364 | Studentship | ST/N504257/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2020 | Clark Baker |
Title | Spectrometer Design Toolkit Software |
Description | Producing a spectrometer design toolkit to allow the community to rapidly explore the confined parameter space present in spectrometer design. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Upcoming. |
Description | NEREA Preliminary Design |
Organisation | Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Designed a preliminary manufacture-friendly design for NEREA a red/near IR, stable, high-resolution spectrometer for the GTC. Writing a paper which will aid in further proposals. |
Collaborator Contribution | Resources, expertise in fibre coupling, adaptive optics and science cases. |
Impact | Upcoming paper and possible £5million project. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Optics Construction Collaboration |
Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Designed and brought to manufacture a diffraction limited collimating/refocusing lens for compact high resolution spectrometers. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided access to Industry standard Optical Design software and optical alignment/set-up advice. |
Impact | Joint purchase of the manufactured lens. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Title | Prototype High Resolution Spectrometer |
Description | Having modelled a functioning spectrometer design, the required components have been manufactured and the system has been constructed into a prototype. |
Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | Functioning high resolution spectrometer is set-up and is ready to be used as a proof of concept in upcoming publications. |
Description | Outreach Campaign |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Wrote and produced outreach video logs of the Red Dots exoplanet search campaign. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://reddots.space/ |