GMTIFS: The adaptive optics beam steering mirror for the GMT integral-field spectrograph

J. Davies, G. Bloxham, R. Boz, D. Bundy, B. Espeland, B. Fordham, J. Hart, N. Herrald, J. Nielsen, R. Sharp, A. Vaccarella, C. Vest, P. J. Young

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    To achieve the high adaptive optics sky coverage necessary to allow the GMT Integral-Field Spectrograph (GMTIFS) to access key scientific targets, the on-instrument adaptive-optics wavefront-sensing (OIWFS) system must patrol the full 180 arcsecond diameter guide field passed to the instrument. The OIWFS uses a diffraction limited guide star as the fundamental pointing reference for the instrument. During an observation the offset between the science target and the guide star will change due to sources such as flexure, differential refraction and non-sidereal tracking rates. GMTIFS uses a beam steering mirror to set the initial offset between science target and guide star and also to correct for changes in offset. In order to reduce image motion from beam steering errors to those comparable to the AO system in the most stringent case, the beam steering mirror is set a requirement of less than 1 milliarcsecond RMS. This corresponds to a dynamic range for both actuators and sensors of better than 1/180,000. The GMTIFS beam steering mirror uses piezo-walk actuators and a combination of eddy current sensors and interferometric sensors to achieve this dynamic range and control. While the sensors are rated for cryogenic operation, the actuators are not. We report on the results of prototype testing of single actuators, with the sensors, on the bench and in a cryogenic environment. Specific failures of the system are explained and suspected reasons for them. A modified test jig is used to investigate the option of heating the actuator and we report the improved results. In addition to individual component testing, we built and tested a complete beam steering mirror assembly. Testing was conducted with a point source microscope, however controlling environmental conditions to less than 1 micron was challenging. The assembly testing investigated acquisition accuracy and if there was any un-sensed hysteresis in the system. Finally we present the revised beam steering mirror design based on the outcomes and lessons learnt from this prototyping.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationAdvances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II
    EditorsRamon Navarro, James H. Burge
    PublisherSPIE
    ISBN (Electronic)9781510602038
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016
    EventAdvances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
    Duration: 26 Jun 20161 Jul 2016

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
    Volume9912
    ISSN (Print)0277-786X
    ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

    Conference

    ConferenceAdvances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CityEdinburgh
    Period26/06/161/07/16

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'GMTIFS: The adaptive optics beam steering mirror for the GMT integral-field spectrograph'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this