Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998phdt.......300s&link_type=abstract
PhD Dissertation, New South Wales Univ. Sydney, Australia
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Infrared Astronomy, Infrared Spectrometers, Cameras, Optical Measuring Instruments, Imaging Spectrometers, Fabry-Perot Interferometers, Computerized Simulation, Spectral Resolution, Computer Aided Design, Mechanical Devices, Field Of View, High Resolution, Etalons, Temperature Effects, Misalignment
Scientific paper
The aim of this thesis was to develop two new infrared astronomical instruments, the University of New South Wales Infrared Fabry-Perot spectrometer (UNSWIRF) and the Infrared Camera of the University of New South Wales (IRC-UNSW), and modify an optics for one existing astronomical instrument, the Automated Patrol Telescope (APT). The optical modification of the APT overcame the problem of a curved focal plane and increased the flat field of view from 0.9 deg to 5 deg, twice as big as our original goal. In addition, glass filters of 5-mm thickness can now be inserted into its f/1 beam without image blurring. The simulation, analysis and redesign of the optical system are presented in detail. Several results from testing on the sky are presented as well. UNSWIRF is a near-infrared tunable imaging spectrometer used in conjunction with IRIS on the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT). It Is the first successful infrared Fabry-Perot spectrometer developed in Australia. Its many challenging features, such as the wide field of view, high spectral and spatial resolution and wide tunable range have been rewarded by exciting, observing results obtained during commissioning in February 1996. A major contribution of this thesis has been in the calibration of the Fabry-Perot etalon. IRC-UNSW is a new near-infrared camera with a tunable Fabry-Perot for infrared astronomy. IRC-UNSW is designed for use on the 4-m Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) and the 2.3-m telescope of the Australian National University. The camera optics use a novel design of three off-axis mirrors, allowing correction of the off-axis aberrations in the telescopes themselves, and producing images with FWHM blur circles of 10 micrometers or less over a wide field of view without chromatic affects. An external Fabry-Perot etalon is used as a high-resolution spectrometer. In its opto-mechanical design, the performance of the camera with respect to thermal effects, stray light, misalignment and manufacturing errors have been fully characterized and efficiently optimized. An infrared PtSi 512 x 512 CSD array and its driving electronics has also been described in detail. Several new technical approaches, such as diamond turned optics and computer aided mechanical design, were also employed.
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