DMDs for multi-object near-infrared spectrographs in astronomy

Stephen A. Smee; Robert Barkhouser; Stephen Hope; Devin Conley; Aidan Gray; Gavin Hope; Massimo Robberto

doi:10.1117/12.2291184

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22 February 2018 DMDs for multi-object near-infrared spectrographs in astronomy

Stephen A. Smee, Robert Barkhouser, Stephen Hope, Devin Conley, Aidan Gray, Gavin Hope, Massimo Robberto

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Proceedings Volume 10546, Emerging Digital Micromirror Device Based Systems and Applications X; 105460L (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2291184
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2018, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The Digital Micromirror Device (DMD), typically used in projection screen technology, has utility in instrumentation for astronomy as a digitally programmable slit in a spectrograph. When placed at an imaging focal plane the device can be used to selectively direct light from astronomical targets into the optical path of a spectrograph, while at the same time directing the remaining light into an imaging camera, which can be used for slit alignment, science imaging, or both. To date the use of DMDs in astronomy has been limited, especially for instruments that operate in the near infrared (1 - 2.5 μm). This limitation is due in part to a host of technical challenges with respect to DMDs that, to date, have not been thoroughly explored. Those challenges include operation at cryogenic temperature, control electronics that facilitate DMD use at these temperatures, window coatings properly coated for the near infrared bandpass, and scattered light. This paper discusses these technical challenges and presents progress towards understanding and mitigating them.

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Stephen A. Smee, Robert Barkhouser, Stephen Hope, Devin Conley, Aidan Gray, Gavin Hope, and Massimo Robberto "DMDs for multi-object near-infrared spectrographs in astronomy", Proc. SPIE 10546, Emerging Digital Micromirror Device Based Systems and Applications X, 105460L (22 February 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2291184

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