Small solutions to the large telescope problem: a massively replicated MEMS spectrograph

Nicholas P. Konidaris II; Joel A. Kubby; Andrew I. Sheinis

doi:10.1117/12.787012

23 July 2008 Small solutions to the large telescope problem: a massively replicated MEMS spectrograph

Nicholas P. Konidaris II, Joel A. Kubby, Andrew I. Sheinis

Proceedings Volume 7018, Advanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation; 70182I (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787012
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

In traditional seeing-limited observations the spectrograph aperture scales with telescope aperture, driving sizes and costs to enormous proportions. We propose a new solution to the seeing-limited spectrograph problem. A massively fiber-sliced congfiguration feeds a set of small diffraction-limited spectrographs. We present a prototype, tunable, J-band, diffraction grating, designed specifically for Astronomical applications: The grating sits at the heart of a spectrograph, no bigger than a few inches on a side. Throughput requirements dictate using tens-of-thousands of spectrographs on a single 10 to 30 meter telescope. A full system would cost significantly less than typical instruments on 10m or 30m telescopes.

Citation Download Citation

Nicholas P. Konidaris II, Joel A. Kubby, and Andrew I. Sheinis "Small solutions to the large telescope problem: a massively replicated MEMS spectrograph", Proc. SPIE 7018, Advanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation, 70182I (23 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787012

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