Dr. Gert Finger Profile

Dr. Gert Finger

Head of Director Systems at European Southern Observatory

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (87)

Proceedings Article | 29 August 2022 Presentation + Paper

Initial characterization of the ME1120 ROIC for the 512x512 pixel large SAPHIRA infrared e-APD array

G. Finger, F. Eisenhauer, T. Hardy, G. Burley, C. Mandla, J. Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 12191, 121911S (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629491

KEYWORDS: Readout integrated circuits, Avalanche photodetectors, Sensors, Video, Infrared radiation, Wavefront sensors, Cryogenics, Diodes, Adaptive optics

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Proceedings Article | 13 December 2020 Poster + Presentation

Infrared wavefront sensing for adaptive optics assisted galactic center observations with GRAVITY

Stefan Hippler, Wolfgang Brandner, Silvia Scheithauer, Martin Kulas, Johana Panduro, Peter Bizenberger, Henri Bonnet, Casey Deen, Françoise Delplancke-Ströbele, Frank Eisenhauer, Gert Finger, Zoltan Hubert, Johann Kolb, Eric Müller, Laurent Pallanca, Julien Woillez, Gérard Zins

Proceedings Volume 11448, 114484K (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2560222

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Wavefront sensors, Infrared radiation, Interferometers, Infrared sensors, Infrared telescopes, Telescopes, Sensors, Large telescopes, K band

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Proceedings Article | 12 July 2019 Open Access

On-sky performance verification of near infrared eAPD technology for wavefront sensing at ground based telescopes, demonstration of e-APD pixel performance to improve the sensitivity of large science focal planes and possibility to use this technology in space

G. Finger, Ian Baker, D. Alvarez, F. Eisenhauer, G. Hechenblaikner, D. Ives, L. Mehrgan, M. Meyer, J. Stegmeier, H. Weller

Proceedings Volume 11180, 111806L (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2536156

KEYWORDS: Avalanche photodetectors, Sensors, Wavefront sensors, Near infrared, Diodes, Quantum efficiency, Adaptive optics, Readout integrated circuits, Aerospace engineering, Telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 17 November 2017 Open Access

Development of HgCdTe large format MBE arrays and noise-free high speed MOVPE EAPD arrays for ground based NIR astronomy

G. Finger, I. Baker, M. Downing, D. Alvarez, D. Ives, L. Mehrgan, M. Meyer, J. Stegmeier, H. Weller

Proceedings Volume 10563, 1056311 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2304270

KEYWORDS: Mercury cadmium telluride, Near infrared, Sensors, Avalanche photodetectors, Astronomical imaging, Nondestructive evaluation, Wavefront sensors, Adaptive optics, Readout integrated circuits, Astronomy

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Proceedings Article | 9 August 2016 Paper

A new test facility for the E-ELT infrared detector program

Jean Louis Lizon, Paola Amico, Martin Brinkmann, Bernard Delabre, Gert Finger, Ivan Maria Guidolin, Ronald Guzman, Renate Hinterschuster, Derek Ives, Barbara Klein, Marco Quattri

Proceedings Volume 9908, 99089I (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231635

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Infrared detectors, Infrared radiation, Cryogenics, Infrared detectors, Mirrors, Camera shutters, Environmental sensing, Optical filters, Calibration, Current controlled current source

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During the development of the VLT instrumentation program, ESO acquired considerable expertise in the area of infrared detectors, their testing and optimizing their performance. This can mainly be attributed to a very competent team and most importantly to the availability of a very well suited test facility, namely, IRATEC. This test facility was designed more than 15 years ago, specifically for 1K × 1K detectors such as the Aladdin device, with a maximum field of only 30 mm square. Unfortunately, this facility is no longer suited for the testing of the new larger format detectors that are going to be used to equip the future E-ELT instruments. It is projected that over the next 20 years, there will be of the order of 50-100 very large format detectors to be procured and tested for use with E-ELT first and second generation instruments and VLT third generation instruments. For this reason ESO has initiated the in-house design and construction of a dedicated new IR detector arrays test facility: the Facility for Infrared Array Testing (FIAT). It will be possible to mount up to four 60 mm square detectors in the facility, as well as mosaics of smaller detectors. It is being designed to have a very low thermal background such that detectors with 5.3 μm cut-off material can routinely be tested. The paper introduces the most important use cases for which FIAT is designed: they range from performing routine performance measurements on acquired devices, optimization setups for custom applications (like spot scan intra-pixel response, persistence and surface reflectivity measurements), test of new complex operation modes (e.g. high speed subwindowing mode for low order sensing, flexure control, etc.) and the development of new tests and calibration procedures to support the scientific requirements of the E-ELT and to allow troubleshooting the unexpected challenges that arise when a new detector system is brought online. The facility is also being designed to minimize the downtime required to change to a new detector and then cool it down, ready for testing. The status of the opto-mechanical and cryogenic design is also described in detail, with particular emphasis on the technical solutions identified to fulfill the FIAT top level requirements. We will also describe how the FIAT project has been set-up as a training facility for the younger generation of engineers who are expected to take over the job from the experienced engineers and ensure that the lessons learnt in so many years of successful IR instrumentation projects at ESO are captured for this next generation.

Proceedings Article | 9 August 2016 Paper

Pushing down with the contrast: scientific performances with SPHERE-IFS

R. Claudi, J. Antichi, A. Baruffolo, P. Bruno, E. Cascone, V. DeCaprio, M. DePascale, S. Desidera, V. D'Orazi, D. Fantinel, G. Farisato, E. Giro, R. Gratton, L. Lessio, A.L. Maire, D. Mesa, B. Salasnich, S. Scuderi, E. Sissa, M. Turatto, A. Zurlo, JL Beuzit, A. Boccaletti, G. Chauvin, K. Dohlen, G. Finger, J. Girard, M. Kasper, N. Hubin, M. Langlois, J. L. Lizon, D. Mouillet, P. Puget, F. Wildi

Proceedings Volume 9908, 99083H (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232827

KEYWORDS: Iterated function systems, Optical spheres, Imaging systems, Exoplanets, Stars, Polarization, Visible radiation, Iterated function systems, Optical spheres, Principal component analysis, Coronagraphy, Planets

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Proceedings Article | 9 August 2016 Paper

The E-ELT first light spectrograph HARMONI: capabilities and modes

Niranjan Thatte, Fraser Clarke, Ian Bryson, Hermine Shnetler, Matthias Tecza, Thierry Fusco, Roland Bacon, Johan Richard, Evencio Mediavilla, Benoît Neichel, Santiago Arribas, Begoña Garcia-Lorenzo, Christopher Evans, Alban Remillieux, Kacem El Madi, Jose Miguel Herreros, Dave Melotte, Kieran O'Brien, Ian Tosh, Joël Vernet, Peter Hammersley, Derek Ives, Gert Finger, Ryan Houghton, Dimitra Rigopoulou, James Lynn, Jamie Allen, Simon Zieleniewski, Sarah Kendrew, Vanessa Ferraro-Wood, Arlette Pécontal-Rousset, Johan Kosmalski, Florence Laurent, Magali Loupias, Laure Piqueras, Edgar Renault, Jeremy Blaizot, Eric Daguisé, Jean-Emmanuel Migniau, Aurélien Jarno, Andy Born, Angus Gallie, David Montgomery, David Henry, Noah Schwartz, William Taylor, Gérard Zins, Luis Fernando Rodríguez-Ramos, Miguel Cagigas, Giuseppina Battaglia, Refael Rebolo López, Elvio Hernández Suárez, José Vicente Gigante-Ripoll, Javier Piqueras López, Montserrat Villa Martin, Carlos Correia, Sandrine Pascal, Leonardo Blanco, Pascal Vola, Benoit Epinat, Celine Peroux, Arthur Vigan, Kjetil Dohlen, Jean-Francois Sauvage, Martin Lee, Alexis Carlotti, Christophe Verinaud, Tim Morris, Richard Myers, Andrew Reeves, Mark Swinbank, Ariadna Calcines, Marrie Larrieu

Proceedings Volume 9908, 99081X (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2230629

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Spectrographs, Spectral resolution, Wavefront sensors, Sensors, Stars, Telescopes, Relays, Iterated function systems, Calibration

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Proceedings Article | 4 August 2016 Paper

GRAVITY detector systems

Leander Mehrgan, Gert Finger, Frank Eisenhauer, Johana Panduro

Proceedings Volume 9907, 99072F (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234731

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Infrared sensors, Wavefront sensors, Cameras, Spectroscopy, Telescopes, Sensors, Avalanche photodetectors, Time metrology, Interference (communication), Infrared telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 4 August 2016 Paper

An overview of the mid-infrared spectro-interferometer MATISSE: science, concept, and current status

A. Matter, B. Lopez, P. Antonelli, M. Lehmitz, F. Bettonvil, U. Beckmann, S. Lagarde, W. Jaffe, R. Petrov, P. Berio, F. Millour, S. Robbe-Dubois, A. Glindemann, P. Bristow, M. Schoeller, T. Lanz, T. Henning, G. Weigelt, M. Heininger, S. Morel, P. Cruzalebes, K. Meisenheimer, R. Hofferbert, S. Wolf, Y. Bresson, T. Agocs, F. Allouche, J.-C. Augereau, G. Avila, C. Bailet, J. Behrend, G. van Belle, J.-P. Berger, R. van Boekel, P. Bourget, R. Brast, J.-M. Clausse, C. Connot, R. Conzelmann, G. Csepany, W. Danchi, M. Delbo, C. Dominik, A. van Duin, E. Elswijk, Y. Fantei, G. Finger, A. Gabasch, F. Gonté, U. Graser, F. Guitton, S. Guniat, M. De Haan, P. Haguenauer, H. Hanenburg, K.-H. Hofmann, M. Hogerheijde, R. ter Horst, J. Hron, C Hummel, J. Isderda, D. Ives, G. Jakob, A. Jasko, P. Jolley, S. Kiraly, J. Kragt, T. Kroener, G. Kroes, S. Kuindersma, L. Labadie, W. Laun, C. Leinert, J.-L. Lizon, C. Lucuix, A. Marcotto, F. Martinache, G. Martinot-Lagarde, N. Mauclert, L. Mehrgan, A. Meilland, M. Mellein, S. Menardi, A. Merand, U. Neumann, E. Nussbaum, S. Ottogalli, R. Palsa, J. Panduro, E. Pantin, I. Percheron, T. Phan Duc, J.-U. Pott, E. Pozna, R. Roelfsema, G. Rupprecht, D. Schertl, C. Schmidt, M. Schuil, A. Spang, J. Stegmeier, N. Tromp, F. Vakili, M. Vannier, K. Wagner, L. Venema, J. Woillez

Proceedings Volume 9907, 99070A (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233052

KEYWORDS: Mid-IR, Interferometry, Telescopes, Signal detection, Sensors, Stars, Spectral resolution, Fourier transforms, L band, Cameras

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Proceedings Article | 4 August 2016 Paper

Progress towards photon-counting infrared arrays for interferometry

David Buscher, Eugene Seneta, Xiaowei Sun, John Young, Gert Finger

Proceedings Volume 9907, 990716 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232598

KEYWORDS: Interferometry, Sensors, Infrared sensors, Infrared radiation, Photodetectors, Signal to noise ratio, Photon counting, Electrons, Interference (communication), Cryogenics

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Proceedings Article | 3 August 2016 Paper

VISIR upgrade overview: all's well that ends well

Florian Kerber, Hans Ulrich Käufl, Konrad Tristram, Daniel Asmus, Pedro Baksai, Nicola Di Lieto, Danuta Dobrzycka, Philippe Duhoux, Gert Finger, Christian Hummel, Derek Ives, Gerd Jakob, Lars Lundin, Dimitri Mawet, Leander Mehrgan, Eric Pantin, Miguel Riquelme, Joel Sanchez, Stefan Sandrock, Ralf Siebenmorgen, Jörg Stegmeier, Alain Smette, Julian Taylor, Mario van den Ancker, Guillermo Valdes, Lars Venema

Proceedings Volume 9908, 99080D (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232441

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Mid-IR, Imaging spectroscopy, Detector arrays, Imaging systems, Image quality, Telescopes, Coronagraphy, Stars, Spectroscopy

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We present an overview of the VISIR instrument after its upgrade and return to science operations. VISIR is the midinfrared imager and spectrograph at ESO’s VLT. The project team is comprised of ESO staff and members of the original VISIR consortium: CEA Saclay and ASTRON. The project plan was based on input from the ESO user community with the goal of enhancing the scientific performance and efficiency of VISIR by a combination of measures: installation of improved hardware, optimization of instrument operations and software support. The cornerstone of the upgrade is the 1k by 1k Si:As AQUARIUS detector array manufactured by Raytheon. In addition, a new prism spectroscopic mode covers the whole N-band in a single observation. Finally, new scientific capabilities for high resolution and high-contrast imaging are offered by sub-aperture mask and coronagraphic modes. In order to make optimal use of favourable atmospheric conditions, a water vapour monitor has been deployed on Paranal, allowing for real-time decisions and the introduction of a user-defined constraint on water vapour. During the commissioning in 2012, it was found that the on-sky sensitivity of the AQUARIUS detector was significantly below expectations. Extensive testing of the detector arrays in the laboratory and on-sky enabled us to diagnose the cause for the shortcoming of the detector as excess low frequency noise. It is inherent to the design chosen for this detector and cannot be remedied by changing the detector set-up. Since this is a form of correlated noise, its impact can be limited by modulating the scene recorded by the detector. After careful analysis, we have implemented fast (up to 4 Hz) chopping with field stabilization using the secondary mirror of the VLT. During commissioning, the upgraded VISIR has been confirmed to be more sensitive than the old instrument, and in particular for low-resolution spectroscopy in the N-band, a gain of a factor 6 is realized in observing efficiency. After overcoming several additional technical problems, VISIR is back in Science Operations since April 2015. In addition an upgrade of the IT infrastructure related to VISIR has been conducted in order to support burst-mode operations. Science Verification of the new modes was performed in Feb 2016. The upgraded VISIR is a powerful instrument providing close to background limited performance for diffraction-limited observations at an 8-m telescope. It offers synergies with facilities such as ALMA, JWST, VLTI and SOFIA, while a wealth of targets is available from survey works like WISE. In addition, it will bring confirmation of the technical readiness and scientific value of several aspects for future mid-IR instrumentation at Extremely Large Telescopes. We also present several lessons learned during the project.

Proceedings Article | 29 July 2016 Paper

Towards the next generation of L-APD MOVPE HgCdTe arrays: beyond the SAPHIRA 320 x 256

Donald N. Hall, Ian Baker, Gert Finger

Proceedings Volume 9915, 99150O (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234370

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Near infrared, Mercury cadmium telluride, Readout integrated circuits, Detector arrays, Astronomy, Stars, Sensors, Avalanche photodetectors, Wavefronts

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Proceedings Article | 27 July 2016 Paper

Sub-electron read noise and millisecond full-frame readout with the near infrared eAPD array SAPHIRA

Gert Finger, Ian Baker, Domingo Alvarez, Christophe Dupuy, Derek Ives, Manfred Meyer, Leander Mehrgan, Jörg Stegmeier, Harald Weller

Proceedings Volume 9909, 990912 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233079

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Diodes, Wavefront sensors, Readout integrated circuits, Avalanche photodetectors, Sensors, Quantum efficiency, Signal detection, Signal to noise ratio, Light emitting diodes

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In 2007 ESO started a program at SELEX (now LEONARDO) to develop noiseless near infrared HgCdTe electron avalanche photodiode arrays (eAPD)[1][2][3]. This eAPD technology is only way to overcome the limiting CMOS noise barrier of near infrared sensors used for wavefront sensing and fringe tracking. After several development cycles of solid state engineering techniques which can be easily applied to the chosen growth technology of metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE), the eAPD arrays have matured and resulted in the SAPHIRA arrays. They have a format of 320x256 pixels with a pitch of 24 μm. They now offer an unmatched combination of sub-electron read noise at millisecond frame readout rates. The first generation of SAPHIRA arrays were only sensitive in H and K-band. With the removal of a wide bandgap buffer layer the arrays are now sensitive from λ=0.8 μm to 2.5 μm with high quantum efficiency over the entire wavelength range. The high temperature anneal applied during the growth process produces material with superb cosmetic quality at an APD gain of over 600. The design of the SAPHIRA ROIC has also been revised and the new ME1000 ROIC has an optimized analogue chain and more flexible readout modes. The clock for the vertical shift register is now under external control. The advantage of this is that correlated-double-sampling and uncorrelated readout in the rolling shutter mode now have a duty cycle of 100% at the maximum frame rate. Furthermore, to reduce the readout noise rows can be read several times before and after row reset. Since the APD gain is sufficiently high that one photon produces many more electrons than the square root of kTC which is the charge uncertainty after reset, signals of one photon per exposure can be easily detected without the need for double correlated sampling. First results obtained with the fringe tracker in GRAVITY and the four SAPHIRA wavefront sensors installed in the CIAO adaptive optics systems of the four 8 meter telescopes of the VLTI have proven the unrivaled performance of the SAPHIRA eAPD technology. A future program is being assembled to develop eAPD arrays having a larger format of 1Kx1K capable of frame rates of 1.2 KHz. There are also good prospects to offer low dark current eAPD technology for large format science focal planes as well.

Proceedings Article | 27 July 2016 Paper

Further performance evaluation of 5.3 µm cut-off Hawaii-2RG detectors

Derek Ives, Udo Beckmann, Domingo Alvarez, Gert Finger, Christoph Geimer, Matthias Heininger, Leander Mehrgan, Simon Tulloch

Proceedings Volume 9915, 99152C (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232888

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Infrared sensors, Nondestructive evaluation, Cryogenics, Infrared detectors, Signal detection, Infrared sensors, Clocks, Signal processing, Detection and tracking algorithms, Image sensors

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ESO has now delivered or tested in-house, four new 5.3 μm cut-off H2RG detectors, for various projects, such as MATISSE for the VLTI and the upgrade project for CRIRES, the cryogenic high-resolution infrared echelle spectrograph for the VLT. The specified instruments have required the implementation of some of the more unusual read out options for these detectors, which may have already been used by other groups, for example, the line-reset-read and line-read-reset modes rather than the standard global reset mode. The detectors are also offered with both output speed options, that is, the standard slow, low noise readout and the faster, higher noise readout, where > 10 frames/s are possible. In the process of building these detector systems and implementing these new options we have delved deeper into some of the lesser known features of these detectors and tried to characterize them more fully. It is important that these characteristics are well understood before delivery of the next generation of detectors for the ELTs where high speed and windowing options are required. We obtain very good performance at 2 Mpixel/s pixel speeds with less than 40 e- rms read noise, in all other aspects such as linearity, noise versus number of non-destructive reads and cross talk then the performance of the outputs is the same as slow speed operation. However, the high speed output stages are quite complex to operate, they need to be very well tuned and are prone to oscillation, if not set correctly. We will report on the best bias options to optimize their performance. Some stability issues are also seen with the slow outputs and this is also reported. Likewise we have observed differences between global reset and line reset for the detectors, manifested in a significant increase in detector full well for the line reset option, this also will be reported on. We have also determined that there may be signal induced by the detector readout clocking process for certain detector material or ROIC revision, at a significant level such that this may be the probable limiting factor of why Fowler sampling reaches a minimum noise value of approximately 3 e- rms for a small number of reads and then increases with further non-destructive reads.

Proceedings Article | 27 July 2016 Paper

CIAO: wavefront sensors for GRAVITY

Silvia Scheithauer, Wolfgang Brandner, Casey Deen, Tobias Adler, Henri Bonnet, Pierre Bourget, Fanny Chemla, Yann Clenet, Francoise Delplancke, Monica Ebert, Frank Eisenhauer, Michael Esselborn, Gert Finger, Eric Gendron, Adrian Glauser, Frederic Gonte, Thomas Henning, Stefan Hippler, Armin Huber, Zoltan Hubert, Gerd Jakob, Lieselotte Jochum, Laurent Jocou, Sarah Kendrew, Ralf Klein, Johann Kolb, Martin Kulas, Werner Laun, Rainer Lenzen, Marcus Mellein, Eric Müller, Javier Moreno-Ventas, Udo Neumann, Sylvain Oberti, Jürgen Ott, Laurent Pallanca, Johana Panduro, Jose Ramos, Miguel Riquelme, Ralf-Rainer Rohloff, Gérard Rousset, Nicolas Schuhler, Marcos Suarez, Gerard Zins

Proceedings Volume 9909, 99092L (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232997

KEYWORDS: Wavefront sensors, Telescopes, Adaptive optics, Observatories, Infrared telescopes, Stars, Infrared sensors, Wavefront sensors, Infrared telescopes, Infrared radiation, Sensors, Mirrors

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Proceedings Article | 26 July 2016 Paper

AO WFS detector developments at ESO to prepare for the E-ELT

Mark Downing, Mark Casali, Gert Finger, Steffan Lewis, Enrico Marchetti, Leander Mehrgan, Suzanne Ramsay, Javier Reyes

Proceedings Volume 9909, 990914 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232504

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Detector development, Sensors, CMOS sensors, Cameras, Imaging systems, Quantum efficiency, CMOS sensors, Telescopes, Near infrared, Optical instrument design

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Proceedings Article | 7 August 2014 Paper

SAPHIRA detector for infrared wavefront sensing

Gert Finger, Ian Baker, Domingo Alvarez, Derek Ives, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Jörg Stegmeier, Harald Weller

Proceedings Volume 9148, 914817 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057078

KEYWORDS: Avalanche photodetectors, Sensors, Liquid phase epitaxy, Wavefront sensors, Quantum efficiency, Interference (communication), K band, Heterojunctions, Doping, Infrared sensors

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The only way to overcome the CMOS noise barrier of near infrared sensors used for wavefront sensing and fringe tracking is the amplification of the photoelectron signal inside the infrared pixel by means of the avalanche gain. In 2007 ESO started a program at Selex to develop near infrared electron avalanche photodiode arrays (eAPD) for wavefront sensing and fringe tracking. In a first step the cutoff wavelength was reduced from 4.5 micron to 2.5 micron in order to verify that the dark current scales with the bandgap and can be reduced to less than one electron/ms, the value required for wavefront sensing. The growth technology was liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) with annular diodes based on the loophole interconnect technology. The arrays required deep cooling to 40K to achieve acceptable cosmetic performance at high APD gain. The second step was to develop a multiplexer tailored to the specific application of the GRAVITY instrument wavefront sensors and the fringe tracker. The pixel format is 320x256 pixels. The array has 32 parallel video outputs which are arranged in such a way that the full multiplex advantage is available also for small subwindows. Nondestructive readout schemes with subpixel sampling are possible. This reduces the readout noise at high APD gain well below the subelectron level at frame rates of 1 KHz. The third step was the change of the growth technology from liquid phase epitaxy to metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE). This growth technology allows the band structure and doping to be controlled on a 0.1μm scale and provides more flexibility for the design of diode structures. The bandgap can be varied for different layers of Hg(_1-x)Cd_xTe. It is possible to make heterojunctions and apply solid state engineering techniques. The change to MOVPE resulted in a dramatic improvement in the cosmetic quality with 99.97 % operable pixels at an operating temperature of 85K. Currently this sensor is deployed in the 4 wavefront sensors and in the fringe tracker of the VLT instrument GRAVITY. Initial results will be presented. An outlook will be given on the potential of APD technology to be employed in large format near infrared science detectors. Several of the results presented here have also been shown to a different audience at the Scientific Detector Workshop in October 2013 in Florence but this paper has been updated with new results [1].

Proceedings Article | 31 July 2014 Paper

VISIR upgrade overview and status

Florian Kerber, Hans-Ulrich Käufl, Pedro Baksai, Nicola Di Lieto, Danuta Dobrzycka, Philippe Duhoux, Gert Finger, Stephanie Heikamp, Derek Ives, Gerd Jakob, Lars Lundin, Dimitri Mawet, Leander Mehrgan, Yazan Momany, Vincent Moreau, Eric Pantin, Miguel Riquelme, Stefan Sandrock, Ralf Siebenmorgen, Alain Smette, Julian Taylor, Mario van den Ancker, Guillermo Valdes, Lars Venema, Ueli Weilenmann

Proceedings Volume 9147, 91470C (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055172

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Spectroscopy, Mid-IR, Imaging systems, Imaging spectroscopy, Prisms, Coronagraphy, Quantum efficiency, Detector arrays, Stars

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We present an overview of the VISIR upgrade project. VISIR is the mid-infrared imager and spectrograph at ESO’s VLT. The project team is comprised of ESO staff and members of the original VISIR consortium: CEA Saclay and ASTRON. The project plan is based on input from the ESO user community with the goal of enhancing the scientific performance and efficiency of VISIR by a combination of measures: installation of improved hardware, optimization of instrument operations and software support. The cornerstone of the upgrade is the 1k by 1k Si:As AQUARIUS detector array (Raytheon) which has been carefully characterized in ESO’s IR detector test facility (modified TIMMI 2 instrument). A prism spectroscopic mode will cover the N-band in a single observation. New scientific capabilities for high resolution and high-contrast imaging will be offered by sub-aperture mask (SAM) and phase-mask coronagraphic (4QPM/AGPM) modes. In order to make optimal use of favourable atmospheric conditions a water vapour monitor has been deployed on Paranal, allowing for real-time decisions and the introduction of a user-defined constraint on water vapour. During the commissioning in 2012 it was found that the on-sky sensitivity of the AQUARIUS detector was significantly below expectations and that VISIR was not ready to go back to science operations. Extensive testing of the detector arrays in the laboratory and on-sky enabled us to diagnose the cause for the shortcoming of the detector as excess low frequency noise (ELFN). It is inherent to the design chosen for this detector and can’t be remedied by changing the detector set-up. Since this is a form of correlated noise its impact can be limited by modulating the scene recorded by the detector. We have studied several mitigation options and found that faster chopping using the secondary mirror (M2) of the VLT offers the most promising way forward. Faster M2 chopping has been tested and is scheduled for implementation before the end of 2014 after which we plan to re-commission VISIR. In addition an upgrade of the IT infrastructure related to VISIR is planned in order to support burst-mode operations. The upgraded VISIR will be a powerful instrument providing close to background limited performance for diffraction-limited observations at an 8-m telescope. It will offer synergy with facilities such as ALMA, JWST, VLTI and SOFIA, while a wealth of targets is available from survey work (e.g. VISTA, WISE). In addition it will bring confirmation of the technical readiness and scientific value of several aspects of potential mid-IR instrumentation at Extremely Large Telescopes.

Proceedings Article | 28 July 2014 Paper

HARMONI: the first light integral field spectrograph for the E-ELT

Niranjan Thatte, Fraser Clarke, Ian Bryson, Hermine Schnetler, Matthias Tecza, Roland Bacon, Alban Remillieux, Evencio Mediavilla, José Miguel Herreros Linares, Santiago Arribas, Christopher Evans, David Lunney, Thierry Fusco, Kieran O'Brien, Ian Tosh, Derek Ives, Gert Finger, Ryan Houghton, Roger Davies, James Lynn, Jamie Allen, Simon Zieleniewski, Sarah Kendrew, Vanessa Ferraro-Wood, Arlette Pécontal-Rousset, Johan Kosmalski, Johan Richard, Aurelien Jarno, Angus Gallie, David Montgomery, David Henry, Gérard Zins, David Freeman, Begona García-Lorenzo, Luis Rodríguez-Ramos, Jorge Revuelta, Elvio Hernandez Suarez, Alberto Bueno-Bueno, José Vincente Gigante-Ripoll, Adolfo Garcia, Kjetil Dohlen, Benoît Neichel

Proceedings Volume 9147, 914725 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055436

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Spectral resolution, Spectroscopy, Adaptive optics, Spectrographs, Visible radiation, Iterated function systems, Sensors, Calibration, Stars

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2014 Paper

Virtual MOONS: a focal plane simulator for the MOONS thousand-fiber NIR spectrograph

G. Li Causi, A. Cabral, Debora Ferruzzi, G. Finger, G. Giacalone, I. Guinouard, D. Lorenzetti, E. Oliva, F. Pedichini, F. Royer, S. Todd, F. Vitali

Proceedings Volume 9147, 914764 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2054635

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Point spread functions, Diffraction, Spectrographs, Computer simulations, Zemax, Device simulation, Signal to noise ratio, Near infrared, Photon counting

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

4MOST: 4-metre Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope

Roelof de Jong, Sam Barden, Olga Bellido-Tirado, Joar Brynnel, Cristina Chiappini, Éric Depagne, Roger Haynes, Diana Johl, Daniel Phillips, Olivier Schnurr, Axel Schwope, Jakob Walcher, Svend Bauer, Gabriele Cescutti, Maria-Rosa Cioni, Frank Dionies, Harry Enke, Dionne Haynes, Andreas Kelz, Francisco Kitaura, Georg Lamer, Ivan Minchev, Volker Müller, Sebastián Nuza, Jean-Christophe Olaya, Tilmann Piffl, Emil Popow, Allar Saviauk, Matthias Steinmetz, Uğur Ural, Monica Valentini, Roland Winkler, Lutz Wisotzki, Wolfgang Ansorge, Manda Banerji, Eduardo Gonzalez Solares, Mike Irwin, Robert Kennicutt, David King, Richard McMahon, Sergey Koposov, Ian Parry, Xiaowei Sun, Nicholas Walton, Gert Finger, Olaf Iwert, Mirko Krumpe, Jean-Louis Lizon, Vincenzo Mainieri, Jean-Philippe Amans, Piercarlo Bonifacio, Matthieu Cohen, Patrick François, Pascal Jagourel, Shan Mignot, Frédéric Royer, Paola Sartoretti, Ralf Bender, Hans-Joachim Hess, Florian Lang-Bardl, Bernard Muschielok, Jörg Schlichter, Hans Böhringer, Thomas Boller, Angela Bongiorno, Marcella Brusa, Tom Dwelly, Andrea Merloni, Kirpal Nandra, Mara Salvato, Johannes Pragt, Ramón Navarro, Gerrit Gerlofsma, Ronald Roelfsema, Gavin Dalton, Kevin Middleton, Ian Tosh, Corrado Boeche, Elisabetta Caffau, Norbert Christlieb, Eva Grebel, Camilla Hansen, Andreas Koch, Hans-G. Ludwig, Holger Mandel, Andreas Quirrenbach, Luca Sbordone, Walter Seifert, Guido Thimm, Amina Helmi, Scott trager, Thomas Bensby, Sofia Feltzing, Gregory Ruchti, Bengt Edvardsson, Andreas Korn, Karin Lind, Wilfried Boland, Matthew Colless, Gabriella Frost, James Gilbert, Peter Gillingham, Jon Lawrence, Neville Legg, Will Saunders, Andrew Sheinis, Simon Driver, Aaron Robotham, Roland Bacon, Patrick Caillier, Johan Kosmalski, Florence Laurent, Johan Richard

Proceedings Volume 9147, 91470M (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055826

KEYWORDS: Galactic astronomy, Spectrographs, Telescopes, Stars, Spine, Spectroscopy, Spectroscopes, X-rays, Observatories, Calibration

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

GRAVITY detector systems

Leander Mehrgan, Gert Finger, Matteo Accardo, Jean-Louis Lizon, Joerg Stegmeier, Frank Eisenhauer

Proceedings Volume 9146, 91461M (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057736

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Spectroscopy, Avalanche photodetectors, Wavefront sensors, Cameras, Infrared sensors, Telescopes, Infrared detectors, Liquid phase epitaxy, Infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

The 4MOST instrument concept overview

Roger Haynes, Samuel Barden, Roelof de Jong, Olivier Schnurr, Olga Bellido, Jakob Walcher, Dionne Haynes, Roland Winkler, Svend-Marian Bauer, Frank Dionies, Allar Saviauk, Cristina Chiappini, Axel Schwope, Joar Brynnel, Matthias Steinmetz, Richard McMahon, Sofia Feltzing, Patrick Francois, Scott Trager, Ian Parry, Mike Irwin, Nicholas Walton, David King, David Sun, Eduaro Gonzalez-Solares, Ian Tosh, Gavin Dalton, Kevin Middleton, Piercarlo Bonifacio, Pascal Jagourel, Shan Mignot, Mathieu Cohen, Jean-Philippe Amans, Frederic Royer, Paola Sartoretti, Johan Pragt, Gerrit Gerlofsma, Ronald Roelfsema, Ramon Navarro, Guido Thimm, Walter Seifert, Norbert Christlieb, Holger Mandel, Trifon Trifonov, Wenli Xu, Florian Lang-Bardl, Bernard Muschielok, Jörg Schlichter, Hans-Joachim Hess, Frank Grupp, Hans Boehringer, Thomas Boller, Tom Dwelly, Ralf Bender, Piero Rosati, Olaf Iwert, Gert Finger, Jean-Louis Lizon L'Allemand, Will Saunders, Andrew Sheinis, Gabriella Frost, Tony Farrell, Lewis Waller, Eric Depagne, Florence Laurent, Patrick Caillier, Johan Kosmalski, Johan Richard, Roland Bacon, Wolfgang Ansorge

Proceedings Volume 9147, 91476I (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057253

KEYWORDS: Control systems, Telescopes, Sensors, Calibration, Spectrographs, Metrology, Neodymium, Ions, Optical instrument design, Optical design

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

MATISSE status report and science forecast

B. Lopez, S. Lagarde, W. Jaffe, R. Petrov, M. Schöller, P. Antonelli, U. Beckman, Ph. Bério, F. Bettonvil, U. Graser, F. Millour, S. Robbe-Dubois, L. Venema, S. Wolf, P. Bristow, A. Glindemann, J.-C. Gonzalez, Th. Lanz, T. Henning, G. Weigelt, T. Agócs, J.-C. Augereau, G. Ávila, C. Bailet, J. Behrend, J.-P. Berger, Roy von Boekel, S. Bonhomme, P. Bourget, R. Brast, Y. Bresson, J. Clausse, O. Chesneau, G. Csépány, C. Connot, A. Crida, W. Danchi, M. Delbo , F. Delplancke, C. Dominik, M. Dugué, E. Elswijk, Y. Fanteï, G. Finger, A. Gabasch, P. Girard, V. Girault, P. Gitton, A. Glazenborg, F. Gonté, F. Guitton, S. Guniat, M. De Haan, P. Haguenauer, H. Hanenburg, M. Heininger, K.-H. Hofmann, M. Hogerheijde, R. ter Horst, J. Hron, Y. Hughes, D. Ives, G. Jakob, A. Jaskó, P. Jolley, J. Kragt, R. Köhler, T. Kroener, G. Kroes, L. Labadie, W. Laun, M. Lehmitz, Ch. Leinert, J. Lizon, Ch. Lucuix, A. Marcotto, F. Martinache, A. Matter, G. Martinot-Lagarde, N. Mauclert, L. Mehrgan, A. Meilland, M. Mellein, S. Ménardi, J. Menut, K. Meisenheimer, S. Morel, L. Mosoni, R. Navarro, U. Neumann, E. Nussbaum, S. Ottogalli, R. Palsa, J. Panduro, E. Pantin, I. Percheron, T. Phan Duc, J.-U. Pott, Eszter Pozna, F. Przygodda, A. Richichi, F. Rigal, G. Rupprecht, D. Schertl, J. Stegmeier, L. Thiam, N. Tromp, M. Vannier, F. Vakili, G. van Belle, K. Wagner, J. Woillez

Proceedings Volume 9146, 91460M (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2056419

KEYWORDS: Interferometry, Sensors, Mid-IR, Stars, Telescopes, Visibility, Planets, Spectral resolution, Photometry, Fourier transforms

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Proceedings Article | 23 July 2014 Paper

LGSD/NGSD: high speed optical CMOS imagers for E-ELT adaptive optics

Mark Downing, Johann Kolb, Philippe Balard, Bart Dierickx, Arnaud Defernez, Philippe Feautrier, Gert Finger, Martin Fryer, Jean-Luc Gach, Christian Guillaume, Norbert Hubin, Paul Jerram, Paul Jorden, Manfred Meyer, Andrew Payne, Andrew Pike, Javier Reyes, Robert Simpson, Eric Stadler, Jeremy Stent, Nick Swift

Proceedings Volume 9154, 91540Q (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055407

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Sensors, Imaging systems, Laser guide stars, Semiconducting wafers, CMOS sensors, Interference (communication), Signal detection, CMOS technology, Manufacturing

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Proceedings Article | 23 July 2014 Paper

AQUARIUS: the next generation mid-IR detector for ground-based astronomy, an update.

Derek Ives, Gert Finger, Gerd Jakob, Udo Beckmann

Proceedings Volume 9154, 91541J (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055837

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Telescopes, Mid-IR, Astronomy, Quantum efficiency, Mirrors, Manufacturing, Multiplexers, Doping, Data analysis

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ESO has already published data from a preliminary laboratory analysis on the new mid-IR detector, AQUARIUS, at the previous SPIE conference of 2012, held in Amsterdam². This data analysis indicated that this new mid-IR Si:As IBC detector, from Raytheon Vision Systems, was an excellent astronomical detector when compared to previous generations of this detector type, specifically in terms of stability, read noise and cosmetic quality. Since that time, the detector has been deployed into the VISIR¹ instrument at the VLT, with very mixed performance results, especially when used with the telescope secondary mirror, to chop between two areas of sky to do background subtraction and at the same time when many frames are co-added to improve the signal to noise performance. This is the typical mode of operation for a mid-IR instrument on a ground based telescope. Preliminary astronomical data analysis indicated that the new detector was a factor of two to three times less sensitive in terms of its signal to noise per unit time performance when directly compared to the old DRS detector that AQUARIUS was designed to replace. To determine the reason for this loss of sensitivity, the instrument was removed from the telescope and not offered to the ESO user community. A detector testing campaign was then initiated in our laboratory to determine the reasons for this loss of sensitivity, assuming that it was an issue with the new detector itself. This paper reports on our latest laboratory measurements to determine the reasons for this loss of sensitivity. We specifically report on indirect measurements made to measure the quantum efficiency of the detector, which can be difficult to measure directly. We also report on a little known source of noise, called Excess Low Frequency Noise (ELFN). Detailed analysis and testing has confirmed that this ELFN is the reason for the loss of instrument sensitivity. This has been proven by a re-commissioning phase at the telescope with the instrument and the detector. A new set of observing parameters and observational regime have been developed to help to mitigate the ELFN. We outline a possible explanation for the source of the EFLN, learnt from a literature search and discussion with the manufacturer.

Proceedings Article | 23 July 2014 Paper

Detector developments at ESO to prepare for the E-ELT era

Mark Downing, Gert Finger, Derek Ives, Olaf Iwert, Johann Kolb, Suzanne Ramsay

Proceedings Volume 9154, 915404 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2069449

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Adaptive optics, Infrared sensors, Detector development, Charge-coupled devices, Cameras, Spectrographs, Visible radiation, Infrared detectors, Telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 8 July 2014 Paper

ERIS: preliminary design phase overview

Harald Kuntschner, Lieselotte Jochum, Paola Amico, Johannes Dekker, Florian Kerber, Enrico Marchetti, Matteo Accardo, Roland Brast, Martin Brinkmann, Ralf Conzelmann, Bernard Delabre, Michel Duchateau, Enrico Fedrigo, Gert Finger, Christoph Frank, Fernando Rodriguez, Barbara Klein, Jens Knudstrup, Miska Le Louarn, Lars Lundin, Andrea Modigliani, Michael Müller, Mark Neeser, Sebastien Tordo, Elena Valenti, Frank Eisenhauer, Eckhard Sturm, Helmut Feuchtgruber, Elisabeth George, Michael Hartl, Reiner Hofmann, Heinrich Huber, Markus Plattner, Josef Schubert, Karl Tarantik, Erich Wiezorrek, Michael Meyer, Sascha Quanz, Adrian Glauser, Harald Weisz, Simone Esposito, Marco Xompero, Guido Agapito, Jacopo Antichi, Valdemaro Biliotti, Marco Bonaglia, Runa Briguglio, Luca Carbonaro, Giovanni Cresci, Luca Fini, Enrico Pinna, Alfio Puglisi, Fernando Quirós-Pacheco, Armando Riccardi, Gianluca Di Rico, Carmelo Arcidiacono, Mauro Dolci

Proceedings Volume 9147, 91471U (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055140

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Sensors, Calibration, Mirrors, Stars, Spectrographs, Cameras, Wavefront sensors, Infrared sensors, Telescopes

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The Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph (ERIS) is the next-generation adaptive optics near-IR imager and spectrograph for the Cassegrain focus of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) Unit Telescope 4, which will soon make full use of the Adaptive Optics Facility (AOF). It is a high-Strehl AO-assisted instrument that will use the Deformable Secondary Mirror (DSM) and the new Laser Guide Star Facility (4LGSF). The project has been approved for construction and has entered its preliminary design phase. ERIS will be constructed in a collaboration including the Max- Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich and the Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri and will offer 1 - 5 μm imaging and 1 - 2.5 μm integral field spectroscopic capabilities with a high Strehl performance. Wavefront sensing can be carried out with an optical high-order NGS Pyramid wavefront sensor, or with a single laser in either an optical low-order NGS mode, or with a near-IR low-order mode sensor. Due to its highly sensitive visible wavefront sensor, and separate near-IR low-order mode, ERIS provides a large sky coverage with its 1’ patrol field radius that can even include AO stars embedded in dust-enshrouded environments. As such it will replace, with a much improved single conjugated AO correction, the most scientifically important imaging modes offered by NACO (diffraction limited imaging in the J to M bands, Sparse Aperture Masking and Apodizing Phase Plate (APP) coronagraphy) and the integral field spectroscopy modes of SINFONI, whose instrumental module, SPIFFI, will be upgraded and re-used in ERIS. As part of the SPIFFI upgrade a new higher resolution grating and a science detector replacement are envisaged, as well as PLC driven motors. To accommodate ERIS at the Cassegrain focus, an extension of the telescope back focal length is required, with modifications of the guider arm assembly. In this paper we report on the status of the baseline design. We will also report on the main science goals of the instrument, ranging from exoplanet detection and characterization to high redshift galaxy observations. We will also briefly describe the SINFONI-SPIFFI upgrade strategy, which is part of the ERIS development plan and the overall project timeline.

Proceedings Article | 8 July 2014 Open Access

Performance of the K-band multi-object spectrograph (KMOS) on the ESO VLT

Ray Sharples, Ralf Bender, Alex Agudo Berbel, Richard Bennett, Naidu Bezawada, Roberto Castillo, Michele Cirasuolo, Paul Clark, George Davidson, Richard Davies, Roger Davies, Marc Dubbeldam, Alasdair Fairley, Gert Finger, Natascha Schreiber, Reinhard Genzel, Reinhold Haefner, Achim Hess, Ives Jung, Ian Lewis, David Montgomery, John Murray, Bernard Muschielok, Jeff Pirard, Suzanne Ramsay, Philip Rees, Josef Richter, David Robertson, Ian Robson, Stephen Rolt, Roberto Saglia, Ivo Saviane, Joerg Schlichter, Linda Schmidtobreik, Alex Segovia, Alain Smette, Matthias Tecza, Stephen Todd, Michael Wegner, Erich Wiezorrek

Proceedings Volume 9147, 91470W (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055496

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Spectrographs, Astronomical imaging, Telescopes, Calibration, Stars, Electronics, K band, Infrared radiation, Cryogenics

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Proceedings Article | 8 July 2014 Paper

The SPHERE IFS at work

R. Claudi, E. Giro, M. Turatto, A. Baruffolo, P. Bruno, E. Cascone, V. DeCaprio, S. Desidera, R. Dorn, D. Fantinel, G. Finger, R. Gratton, L. Lessio, J. Lizon, A. Maire, D. Mesa, B. Salasnich, S. Scuderi, A. Zurlo, K. Dohlen, J. Beuzit, D. Mouillet, P. Puget, Francois Wildi, N. Hubin, M. Kasper

Proceedings Volume 9147, 91471L (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055087

KEYWORDS: Iterated function systems, Optical spheres, Calibration, Stars, Cameras, Sensors, Near infrared, Telescopes, Adaptive optics, Coronagraphy

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Proceedings Article | 24 June 2014 Paper

Mercury cadmium telluride focal plane array developments at Selex ES for astronomy and spectroscopy

Ian Baker, Gert Finger, Keith Barnes

Proceedings Volume 9070, 90702U (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2050403

KEYWORDS: Mercury cadmium telluride, Readout integrated circuits, Liquid phase epitaxy, Near infrared, Astronomy, Sensors, K band, Short wave infrared radiation, Quantum efficiency, Staring arrays

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Proceedings Article | 5 October 2012 Paper

The design of ERIS for the VLT

P. Amico, E. Marchetti, F. Pedichini, A. Baruffolo, B. Delabre, M. Duchateau, M. Ekinci, D. Fantinel, E. Fedrigo, G. Finger, C. Frank, R. Hofmann, P. Jolley, J. L. Lizon, M. Le Louarn, P.-Y. Madec, C. Soenke, H. Weisz

Proceedings Volume 8446, 844620 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925170

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Adaptive optics, Mirrors, Current controlled current source, Telescopes, Wavefront sensors, Cameras, Optical design, Imaging systems, Standards development

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Proceedings Article | 5 October 2012 Paper

4MOST: 4-metre multi-object spectroscopic telescope

Roelof de Jong, Olga Bellido-Tirado, Cristina Chiappini, Éric Depagne, Roger Haynes, Diana Johl, Olivier Schnurr, Axel Schwope, Jakob Walcher, Frank Dionies, Dionne Haynes, Andreas Kelz, Francisco Kitaura, Georg Lamer, Ivan Minchev, Volker Müller, Sebastián Nuza, Jean-Christophe Olaya, Tilmann Piffl, Emil Popow, Matthias Steinmetz, Ugur Ural, Mary Williams, Roland Winkler, Lutz Wisotzki, Wolfgang Ansorge, Manda Banerji, Eduardo Gonzalez Solares, Mike Irwin, Robert Kennicutt, Dave King, Richard McMahon, Sergey Koposov, Ian Parry, David Sun, Nicholas Walton, Gert Finger, Olaf Iwert, Mirko Krumpe, Jean-Louis Lizon, Mainieri Vincenzo, Jean-Philippe Amans, Piercarlo Bonifacio, Mathieu Cohen, Patrick Francois, Pascal Jagourel, Shan Mignot, Frédéric Royer, Paola Sartoretti, Ralf Bender, Frank Grupp, Hans-Joachim Hess, Florian Lang-Bardl, Bernard Muschielok, Hans Böhringer, Thomas Boller, Angela Bongiorno, Marcella Brusa, Tom Dwelly, Andrea Merloni, Kirpal Nandra, Mara Salvato, Johannes Pragt, Ramón Navarro, Gerrit Gerlofsma, Ronald Roelfsema, Gavin Dalton, Kevin Middleton, Ian Tosh, Corrado Boeche, Elisabetta Caffau, Norbert Christlieb, Eva Grebel, Camilla Hansen, Andreas Koch, Hans-G. Ludwig, Andreas Quirrenbach, Luca Sbordone, Walter Seifert, Guido Thimm, Trifon Trifonov, Amina Helmi, Scott Trager, Sofia Feltzing, Andreas Korn, Wilfried Boland

Proceedings Volume 8446, 84460T (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926239

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Telescopes, Stars, Space telescopes, Calibration, Actuators, Optical instrument design, Spectral resolution, Spectroscopy, Galactic astronomy

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Proceedings Article | 27 September 2012 Paper

VISIR upgrade overview and status

Florian Kerber, Hans Ulrich Käufl, Pedro Baksai, Danuta Dobrzycka, Gert Finger, Derek Ives, Gerd Jakob, Eric Lagadec, Lars Lundin, Dimitri Mawet, Leander Mehrgan, Margaret Moerchen, Yazan Momany, Vincent Moreau, Eric Pantin, Miguel Riquelme, Ralf Siebenmorgen, Armin Silber, Alain Smette, Julian Taylor, Mario van den Ancker, Lars Venema, Ueli Weilenmann, Irina Yegorova

Proceedings Volume 8446, 84460E (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924979

KEYWORDS: Spectroscopy, Sensors, Imaging spectroscopy, Mid-IR, Calibration, Prisms, Coronagraphy, Observatories, Imaging systems, Stars

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Proceedings Article | 25 September 2012 Paper

Evaluation and optimization of NIR HgCdTe avalanche photodiode arrays for adaptive optics and interferometry

Gert Finger, Ian Baker, Domingo Alvarez, Derek Ives, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Joerg Stegmeier, Peter Thorne, Harald Weller

Proceedings Volume 8453, 84530T (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926288

KEYWORDS: Avalanche photodetectors, Readout integrated circuits, Sensors, Mercury cadmium telluride, Wavefront sensors, Liquid phase epitaxy, Nondestructive evaluation, Capacitance, Prototyping, Video

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Proceedings Article | 25 September 2012 Paper

Backside-illuminated, high-QE, 3e- RoN, fast 700fps, 1760x1680 pixels CMOS imager for AO with highly parallel readout

Mark Downing, Johann Kolb, Dietrich Baade, Philippe Balard, Bart Dierickx, Arnaud Defernez, Benoit Dupont, Philippe Feautrier, Gert Finger, Martin Fryer, Jean-Luc Gach, Christian Guillaume, Norbert Hubin, Olaf Iwert, Paul Jerram, Paul Jorden, Andrew Pike, Jerome Pratlong, Javier Reyes, Eric Stadler, Andrew Walker

Proceedings Volume 8453, 84530C (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925616

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Adaptive optics, Imaging systems, CMOS technology, CMOS sensors, Interference (communication), Quantum efficiency, Cameras, Signal detection, Detector development

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Proceedings Article | 25 September 2012 Paper

AQUARIUS: the next generation mid-IR detector for ground-based astronomy

Derek Ives, Gert Finger, Gerd Jakob, Siegfried Eschbaumer, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Joerg Steigmeier

Proceedings Volume 8453, 845312 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925844

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Mid-IR, Signal detection, Astronomy, Photons, Field effect transistors, Interference (communication), Detector development, Multiplexers, Nondestructive evaluation

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Proceedings Article | 24 September 2012 Paper

The IFS of SPHERE: integration and laboratory performances

R. Claudi, U. Anselmi, P. Bruno, E. Cascone, A. Costille, V. De Caprio, S. Desidera, E. Giro, R. Gratton, L. Lessio, D. Mesa, S. Scuderi, M. Turatto, F. Wildi, A. Baruffolo, R. Dorn, D. Fantinel, G. Finger, J. Lizon, E. Sant'Ambrogio, B. Salasnich, Jl. Beuzit, K. Dohlen, P. Puget, M. Kasper, N. Hubin

Proceedings Volume 8446, 84468N (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924966

KEYWORDS: Iterated function systems, Optical spheres, Sensors, Cameras, Stars, Near infrared, Planets, Lamps, Adaptive optics, Visible radiation

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Proceedings Article | 24 September 2012 Open Access

Status of the KMOS multi-object near-infrared integral field spectrograph

Ray Sharples, Ralf Bender, Alex Agudo Berbel, Richard Bennett, Naidu Bezawada, Michele Cirasuolo, Paul Clark, George Davidson, Richard Davies, Roger Davies, Marc Dubbeldam, Alasdair Fairley, Gert Finger, Reinhard Genzel, Reinhold Haefner, Achim Hess, Ian Lewis, David Montgomery, John Murray, Bernard Muschielok, Natascha Förster-Schreiber, Jeff Pirard, Suzanne Ramsay, Phil Rees, Josef Richter, David Robertson, Ian Robson, Stephen Rolt, Roberto Saglia, Jörg Schlichter, Mathias Tecza, Stephen Todd, Michael Wegner, Erich Wiezorrek

Proceedings Volume 8446, 84460K (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926021

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Sensors, Mirrors, Calibration, Spectral resolution, Image quality, Astronomical imaging, Electronics, Off axis mirrors, Lamps

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Proceedings Article | 12 September 2012 Paper

Perspective of imaging in the mid-infrared at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer

B. Lopez, S. Lagarde, P. Antonelli, W. Jaffe, R. Petrov, L. Venema, Sylvie Robbe-Dubois, F. Bettonvil, P. Berio, R. Navarro, U. Graser, U. Beckman, G. Weigelt, F. Vakili, T. Henning, J.-C. Gonzales, S. Wolf, C. Bailet, J. Behrend, Y. Bresson, O. Chesneau, J. Clausse, C. Connot, M. Dugué, Y. Fantei, E. Elswijk, H. Hanenburg, K. Hofmann, M. Heininger, R. ter Horst, J. Hron, J. Kragt, N. Tromp, T. Agocs, G. Kroes, W. Laun, Ch. Leinert, M. Lehmitz, A. Matter, J. Menut, F. Millour, U. Neumann, E. Nussbaum, S. Ottogalli, J.-U. Pott, F. Rigal, A. Roussel, D. Schertl, M. Vannier, K. Wagner, M. Mellein, T. Kroener, N. Mauclert, P. Girard, G. Lagarde, L. Mosoni, A. Jasko, A. Glindemann, T. Phan Duc, G. Finger, D. Ives, G. Jakob, I. Percheron, G. Avila, R. Palsa, Eszter Pozna, J. Lizon, Ch. Lucuix, S. Menardi, P. Haguenauer, P. Gitton, S. Morel, F. Gonté, P. Jolley, G. Rupprecht, P. Bourget, F. Delplancke, L. Mehrgan, J. Stegmeier, G. van Belle, A. Richichi, A. Moorwood

Proceedings Volume 8445, 84450R (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926238

KEYWORDS: Interferometry, Sensors, Visibility, Mid-IR, L band, Telescopes, Spectral resolution, Image restoration, Interferometers, Photometry

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Proceedings Article | 17 September 2011 Paper

Evolution of large format impurity band conductor focal plane arrays for astronomy applications

Robert Mills, Eric Beuville, Elizabeth Corrales, Alan Hoffman, Gert Finger, Derek Ives

Proceedings Volume 8154, 81540R (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.897292

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Astronomy, Space telescopes, James Webb Space Telescope, Telescopes, Quantum efficiency, Readout integrated circuits, Staring arrays, Mid-IR, Packaging

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Proceedings Article | 17 September 2010 Paper

Manufacturing and integration of the IRDIS dual imaging camera and spectrograph for SPHERE

Kjetil Dohlen, Michael Carle, Fabrice Madec, Maud Langlois, David Le Mignant, Michel Saisse, Arthur Vigan, Gilles Arthaud, Rudy Barette, Jean-Antoine Benedetti, Jean-Claude Blanc, Patrick Blanchard, William Bon, Louis Castinel, Christophe Fabron, Lucien Hill, Marc Jaquet, Philippe Laurent, Marc Llored, Nataly Manzone, Silvio Mazzanti, Jeanne Melkonian, Gabriel Moreaux, Claire Moutou, Alain Origne, Markus Feldt, Vianak Naranjo, Ralf-Rainer Rohloff, Jean-Luc Beuzit, Laurence Gluck, David Mouillet, Pascal Puget, Andrea Baruffolo, Francois Wildi, Reinhold Dorn, Gert Finger, Norbert Hubin, Markus Kasper, Jean-Louis Lizon

Proceedings Volume 7735, 77352W (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857169

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Optical filters, Optical spheres, Image filtering, Optical benches, Cameras, Imaging spectroscopy, Manufacturing, Coronagraphy, Optics manufacturing

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Proceedings Article | 26 August 2010 Paper

High-performance large format impurity band conductor focal plane arrays for astronomy applications

Robert Mills, John Edwards, Eric Beuville, Andrew Toth, Elizabeth Corrales, Neil Therrien, Jeff Kissel, Gert Finger

Proceedings Volume 7780, 778003 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.862264

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Astronomy, Quantum efficiency, Readout integrated circuits, Staring arrays, Space telescopes, Nondestructive evaluation, James Webb Space Telescope, Semiconducting wafers, Infrared sensors

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Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) has developed a family of high performance large format infrared detector arrays whose detectors are most effective for the detection of long and very long wavelength infrared energy. This paper describes the state of the art in mega-pixel Si:As Impurity Band Conduction (IBC) arrays and relevant system applications that offers unique off-the-shelf solutions to the astronomy community. Raytheon's Aquarius-1k, developed in collaboration with ESO, is a 1024 × 1024 pixel high performance array with a 30μm pitch that features high quantum efficiency IBC detectors, low noise, low dark current, and on-chip clocking for ease of operation. This large format array was designed for ground-based astronomy applications but lends itself for space based platforms too. The detector has excellent sensitivity out to 27μm wavelength. The readout circuit has several programmable features such as low gain for a well capacity of 11 × 10⁶e-, high gain for a well capacity of 10⁶e- and a programmable number of outputs (16 or 64). Programmable integration time and integration modes, like snapshot, rolling and non-destructive integrations, allow the Aquarius to be used for a wide variety of applications and performance. A very fast full frame rate of 120Hz is achieved with 64 outputs (32 outputs per side) and a programmable centered windowing will accommodate a wide range of readout rates. The multiplexer and packaging design utilizes two alignment edges on the SCA which can be butted on two sides for expansion to 2k × 1k and wider focal planes. Data is shown on several focal plane arrays to demonstrate that very low noise and high quantum efficiency performance has been achieved. This array leverages over thirty years of experience in both ground and space based astronomy sensor applications. The technology has been successfully demonstrated on programs such as NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and Japan's Akari Space Telescope, and will be used on the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Proceedings Article | 21 July 2010 Paper

Upgrade of VISIR the mid-infrared instrument at the VLT

F. Kerber, H. Kaeufl, M. van den Ancker, P. Baksai, D. Dubreuil, G. Durand, D. Dobrzycka, G. Finger, Ch. Hummel, D. Ives, G. Jakob, E. Lagadec, L. Lundin, G. Marconi, M. Moerchen, Y. Momany, D. Nuernberger, E. Pantin, M. Riquelme, R. Siebenmorgen, A. Smette, L. Venema, U. Weilenmann, I. Yegorova

Proceedings Volume 7735, 77357R (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857368

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Mid-IR, Telescopes, Astronomy, Observatories, Spectrographs, Infrared radiation, Coronagraphy, Spectral resolution, Infrared telescopes

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The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is preparing to upgrade VISIR, the mid-IR imager and spectrograph at the VLT. The project team is comprised of ESO staff and members of the original consortium that built VISIR: CEA Saclay and ASTRON. The goal is to enhance the scientific performance of VISIR and to facilitate its use by the ESO community. In order to capture the needs of the user community, we collected input from the users by means of a webbased questionnaire. In line with the results of the internal study and the input from the user community, the upgrade plan calls for a combination measures: installation of improved hardware, optimization of instrument operations and software support. The limitations of the current detector (sensitivity, cosmetics, artifacts) have been known for some time and a new 1k x 1k Si:As Aquarius array (Raytheon) will be the cornerstone of the VISIR upgrade project. A modified spectroscopic mode will allow covering the N-band in a single observation. Several new scientific modes (e.g., polarimetry, coronagraphy) will be implemented on a best effort basis. In addition, the VISIR operational scheme will be enhanced to ensure that optimal use of the observing conditions will be made. Specifically, we plan to provide a means to monitor precipitable water vapour (PWV) and enable the user to specify it as a constraint set for service mode observations. In some regions of the mid-IR domain, the amount of PWV has a fundamental effect on the quality of a given night for mid-IR astronomy. The plan also calls for full support by ESO pipelines that will deliver science-ready data products. Hence the resulting files will provide physical units and error information and all instrumental signatures will have been removed. An upgraded VISIR will be a powerful instrument providing diffraction-limited performance at an 8-m telescope. Its improved performance and efficiency as well as new science capabilities will serve the needs of the ESO community but will also offer synergy with various other facilities such as ALMA, JWST, VLTI and SOFIA. A wealth of targets for detailed study will be available from survey work done by VISTA and WISE. Finally, the upgraded VISIR will also serve as a pathfinder for potential mid-IR instrumentation at the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) in terms of technology as well as operations.

Proceedings Article | 20 July 2010 Paper

Performance evaluation of 5 µm cut-off Hawaii-2RG detectors using the fast readout amplifiers

Derek Ives, Gert Finger, Reinhold Dorn, Siegfried Eschbaumer, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 7742, 77421S (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858063

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Cryogenics, Capacitance, Detector development, Video, Astronomy, Clocks, Mid-IR, Electronics, Amplifiers

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Proceedings Article | 20 July 2010 Paper

Development of high-speed, low-noise NIR HgCdTe avalanche photodiode arrays for adaptive optics and interferometry

Gert Finger, Ian Baker, Reinhold Dorn, Siegfried Eschbaumer, Derek Ives, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Jörg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 7742, 77421K (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857316

KEYWORDS: Avalanche photodetectors, Sensors, Multiplexers, Mercury cadmium telluride, Interference (communication), Video, Infrared sensors, Infrared radiation, Photons, Wavefront sensors

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Proceedings Article | 20 July 2010 Paper

SIDECAR ASIC at ESO

Reinhold Dorn, Siegfried Eschbaumer, Gert Finger, Derek Ives, Manfred Meyer, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 7742, 774219 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856643

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Electronics, Capacitance, Quantum efficiency, Silicon, Infrared detectors, Interfaces, Analog electronics, Electrons, Infrared sensors

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Proceedings Article | 15 July 2010 Paper

Performances of X-shooter, the new wide-band intermediate resolution spectrograph at the VLT

J. Vernet, H. Dekker, S. D'Odorico, E. Mason, P. Di Marcantonio, M. Downing, E. Elswijk, G. Finger, G. Fischer, F. Kerber, L. Kern, J.-L. Lizon, C. Lucuix, V. Mainieri, A. Modigliani, F. Patat, S. Ramsay, P. Santin, M. Vidali, P. Groot, I. Guinouard, F. Hammer, L. Kaper, P. Kjærgaard-Rasmussen, R. Navarro, S. Randich, F. Zerbi

Proceedings Volume 7735, 77351I (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857124

KEYWORDS: Lamps, Near infrared, Spectrographs, Camera shutters, Calibration, Mirrors, CCD cameras, Ultraviolet radiation, Telescopes, Image quality

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Proceedings Article | 15 July 2010 Open Access

Recent progress on the KMOS multi-object integral-field spectrograph for ESO VLT

Ray Sharples, Ralf Bender, Alex Agudo Berbel, Richard Bennett, Naidu Bezawada, Nicolas Bouché, David Bramall, Mark Casali, Michele Cirasuolo, Paul Clark, Mark Cliffe, Richard Davies, Roger Davies, Niv Drory, Marc Dubbeldam, Alasdair Fairley, Gert Finger, Reinhard Genzel, Reinhold Haefner, Achim Hess, Paul Jeffers, Ian Lewis, David Montgomery, John Murray, Bernard Muschielok, Natascha Förster Schreiber, Jean Pirard, Suzie Ramsay-Howat, Philip Rees, Josef Richter, David Robertson, Ian Robson, Stephen Rolt, Roberto Saglia, Joerg Schlichter, Mathias Tecza, Stephen Todd, Michael Wegner, Erich Wiezorrek

Proceedings Volume 7735, 773515 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856125

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Sensors, Astronomical imaging, Spectroscopy, Mirrors, Electronics, Off axis mirrors, Manufacturing, Infrared spectroscopy, Observatories

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Proceedings Article | 15 July 2010 Paper

SPHERE IFS: the spectro differential imager of the VLT for exoplanets search

R. Claudi, M. Turatto, E. Giro, D. Mesa, U. Anselmi, P. Bruno, E. Cascone, V. De Caprio, S. Desidera, R. Dorn, D. Fantinel, G. Finger, R. Gratton, L. Lessio, J. Lizon, B. Salasnic, S. Scuderi, Kj. Dohlen, J. Beuzit, P. Puget, J. Antichi, N. Hubin, M. Kasper

Proceedings Volume 7735, 77350V (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856647

KEYWORDS: Planets, Iterated function systems, Optical spheres, Sensors, Stars, Adaptive optics, Calibration, Diffraction, Coronagraphy, Point spread functions

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2008 Paper

MATISSE: perspective of imaging in the mid-infrared at the VLTI

B. Lopez, P. Antonelli, S. Wolf, S. Lagarde, W. Jaffe, R. Navarro, U. Graser, R. Petrov, G. Weigelt, Y. Bresson, K. Hofmann, U. Beckman, T. Henning, W. Laun, Ch. Leinert, S. Kraus, S. Robbe-Dubois, F. Vakili, A. Richichi, P. Abraham, J.-C. Augereau, J. Behrend, Ph. Berio, N. Berruyer, O. Chesneau, J. Clausse, C. Connot, K. Demyk, W. Danchi, M. Dugué, G. Finger, S. Flament, A. Glazenborg, H. Hannenburg, M. Heininger, Y. Hugues, J. Hron, S. Jankov, F. Kerschbaum, G. Kroes, H. Linz, J.-L. Lizon, Ph. Mathias, R. Mathar, A. Matter, J. Menut, K. Meisenheimer, F. Millour, N. Nardetto, U. Neumann, E. Nussbaum, A. Niedzielski, L. Mosoni, J. Olofsson, Y. Rabbia, T. Ratzka, F. Rigal, A. Roussel, D. Schertl, F.-X. Schmider, B. Stecklum, E. Thiebaut, M. Vannier, B. Valat, K. Wagner, L. B. F. M. Waters

Proceedings Volume 7013, 70132B (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789412

KEYWORDS: Mid-IR, Planets, Stars, Interferometry, Spectral resolution, Spectroscopy, Mirrors, Telescopes, Sensors, Observatories

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Proceedings Article | 25 July 2008 Paper

CRIRES: commissioning and first science results

Hans Ulrich Käufl, Paola Amico, Pascal Ballester, Eduardo Bendek Selman, Paul Bristow, Mark Casali, Bernard Delabre, Danuta Dobrzycka, Reinhold Dorn, Raul Esteves, Gert Finger, Gordon Gillet, Domingo Gojak, Michael Hilker, Paul Jolley, Yves Jung, Florian Kerber, Barbara Klein, Jean-Louis Lizon, Jerome Paufique, Jean-Francois Pirard, Eszter Pozna, Hugues Sana, Lilian Sanzana, Ricardo Schmutzer, Andreas Seifahrt, Ralf Siebenmorgen, Alain Smette, Jörg Stegmeier, Lowell Tacconi-Garman, Stefan Uttenthaler, Elena Valenti, Ueli Weilenmann, Burkhard Wolff

Proceedings Volume 7014, 70140W (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787259

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Sensors, Infrared radiation, Spectrographs, Lamps, Telescopes, Observatories, Cryogenics, Adaptive optics, Spectral resolution

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2008 Paper

Performance evaluation, readout modes, and calibration techniques of HgCdTe Hawaii-2RG mosaic arrays

Gert Finger, Reinhold Dorn, Siegfried Eschbaumer, Donald Hall, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 7021, 70210P (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787971

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Capacitance, Calibration, Stars, Mercury cadmium telluride, Signal detection, Infrared radiation, Electrons, Photometry, Multiplexers

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Proceedings Article | 22 July 2008 Paper

Performance and evaluation of the infrared AO sensor CALICO

Leander Mehrgan, Siegfried Eschbaumer, Gert Finger, Manfred Meyer, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 7021, 70210W (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789124

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Infrared sensors, Adaptive optics, Interference (communication), Amplifiers, Infrared detectors, Video, Cryogenics, Photons, Infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 22 July 2008 Paper

Evaluation of the Teledyne SIDECAR ASIC at cryogenic temperature using a visible hybrid H2RG focal plane array in 32 channel readout mode

Reinhold Dorn, Siegfried Eschbaumer, Donald N. Hall, Gert Finger, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 7021, 70210Q (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788717

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Electrons, Electronics, Silicon, Capacitance, Analog electronics, Quantum efficiency, Infrared sensors, Cryogenics, Infrared detectors

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Proceedings Article | 10 July 2008 Paper

Detectors for AO wavefront sensing

Mark Downing, Gert Finger, Dietrich Baade, Norbert Hubin, Olaf Iwert, Johann Kolb

Proceedings Volume 7015, 70151R (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787965

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Adaptive optics, Charge-coupled devices, Quantum efficiency, Silicon, Avalanche photodetectors, Imaging systems, Electron multiplying charge coupled devices, Signal to noise ratio, Infrared sensors

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Proceedings Article | 9 July 2008 Paper

X-shooter near-IR spectrograph arm realisation

Ramon Navarro, Eddy Elswijk, Niels Tromp, Rik ter Horst, Matthew Horrobin, Joel Vernet, Gert Finger, Paul Groot, Lex Kaper

Proceedings Volume 7014, 70141Y (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789778

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Sensors, Mirrors, Near infrared, Cryogenics, Collimators, Prisms, Optics manufacturing, Aluminum, Manufacturing

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Proceedings Article | 9 July 2008 Paper

Performance of HAWK-I: the new high acuity wide-field K-band imager

M. Kissler-Patig, N. Ageorges, C. Alves de Oliveira, L. Bedin, E. Bendek, M. Casali, R. Dorn, R. Esteves, G. Finger, D. Gojak, Y. Jung, M. Kiekebusch, A. Moorwood, J.-L. Lizon, M. Petr-Gotzens, J. F. Pirard, J. Pritchard, F. Selman

Proceedings Volume 7014, 70140Q (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787009

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Stars, Image quality, Imaging systems, Distortion, Optical filters, Calibration, Telescopes, K band, Nondestructive evaluation

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Proceedings Article | 12 September 2007 Paper

Mid-infrared instrumentation for the European Extremely Large Telescope

S. Kendrew, B. Brandl, R. Lenzen, L. Venema, H. U. Käufl, G. Finger, A. Glasse, R. Stuik

Proceedings Volume 6692, 66920B (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.733794

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Adaptive optics, Mid-IR, James Webb Space Telescope, Space telescopes, Stars, Imaging systems, Large telescopes, Spectrographs, Optical instrument design

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Proceedings Article | 29 June 2006 Paper

MIDIR/T-OWL: the thermal/mid-IR instrument for the E-ELT

Bernhard Brandl, Rainer Lenzen, Lars Venema, Hans-Ulrich Käufl, Gert Finger, Alistair Glasse, Wolfgang Brandner, Remko Stuik

Proceedings Volume 6269, 626920 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670806

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Adaptive optics, Mid-IR, Imaging spectroscopy, Spatial resolution, Stars, Spectral resolution, Spectroscopy, Molecules, Spectrographs

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Proceedings Article | 28 June 2006 Open Access

Design of the KMOS multi-object integral-field spectrograph

Ray Sharples, Ralf Bender, Richard Bennett, Keith Burch, Paul Carter, Mark Casali, Paul Clark, Robert Content, Richard Davies, Roger Davies, Marc Dubbeldam, Gert Finger, Reinhard Genzel, Reinhold Haefner, Achim Hess, Markus Kissler-Patig, Ken Laidlaw, Matt Lehnert, Ian Lewis, Alan Moorwood, Bernard Muschielok, Natascha Förster-Schreiber, Jeff Pirard, Suzanne Ramsay Howat, Phil Rees, Josef Richter, David Robertson, Ian Robson, Roberto Saglia, Matthias Tecza, Naranjan Thatte, Stephen Todd, Michael Wegner

Proceedings Volume 6269, 62691C (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.669781

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Mirrors, Astronomical imaging, Spectroscopy, Galactic astronomy, Calibration, Sensors, Astronomy, Infrared spectroscopy, Prototyping

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Proceedings Article | 28 June 2006 Paper

Integration and first results of the CAMCAO NIR camera

António Amorim, Jorge Lima, João Alves, José Rebordão, José Pinhão, Luis Gurriana, Alexandre Cabral, Enrico Marchetti, Johann Kolb, Sebastian Tordo, Gert Finger, Jean-Louis Lizon, Filipe Duarte Santos, Rui Ferreira Marques, Rui Alves, Rui Barros

Proceedings Volume 6269, 626957 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671746

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Cameras, Optical filters, Cryogenics, Near infrared, Optical testing, Adaptive optics, Integrated optics, Optics manufacturing, Infrared cameras

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Proceedings Article | 28 June 2006 Paper

HAWK-I: the new wide-field IR imager for the VLT

Mark Casali, Jean-Francois Pirard, Markus Kissler-Patig, Alan Moorwood, Luigi Bedin, Peter Biereichel, Bernard Delabre, Reinhold Dorn, Gert Finger, Domingo Gojak, Gotthard Huster, Yves Jung, Franz Koch, Jean-Louis Lizon, Leander Mehrgan, Eszter Pozna, Armin Silber, Barbara Sokar, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 6269, 62690W (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670150

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Infrared imaging, Adaptive optics, Imaging systems, Infrared cameras, Infrared radiation, Stars, Galactic astronomy, Computer aided design, Infrared detectors

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Proceedings Article | 28 June 2006 Paper

Observational capabilities and technical solutions of a thermal and MIR instrument at E-ELT

Rainer Lenzen, Bernhard Brandl, Wolfgang Brandner, Gert Finger, Alistair Glasse, Hans-Ulrich Käufl, Lars Venema

Proceedings Volume 6269, 626952 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671193

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Spectroscopy, Sensors, Adaptive optics, Diffraction, Imaging systems, Cameras, Space telescopes, Switches, Collimators

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Proceedings Article | 15 June 2006 Paper

A CMOS visible silicon imager hybridized to a Rockwell 2RG multiplexer as a new detector for ground based astronomy

Reinhold Dorn, Siegfried Eschbaumer, Gert Finger, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 6276, 627607 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671422

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Quantum efficiency, Capacitance, Photons, Silicon, Electrons, Charge-coupled devices, Multiplexers, Diodes, Imaging systems

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Proceedings Article | 15 June 2006 Paper

Interpixel capacitance in large format CMOS hybrid arrays

G. Finger, R. Dorn, M. Meyer, L. Mehrgan, A. Moorwood, J. Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 6276, 62760F (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671828

KEYWORDS: Capacitance, Sensors, Mercury cadmium telluride, Point spread functions, Diodes, Capacitive coupling, Multiplexers, Interference (communication), Signal detection, Capacitors

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Proceedings Article | 30 September 2004 Paper

CRIRES: a high-resolution infrared spectrograph for ESO's VLT

Hans-Ulrich Kaeufl, Pascal Ballester, Peter Biereichel, Bernard Delabre, Rob Donaldson, Reinhold Dorn, Enrico Fedrigo, Gert Finger, Gerhard Fischer, Francis Franza, Domingo Gojak, Gotthard Huster, Yves Jung, Jean-Louis Lizon, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Alan Moorwood, Jean-Francois Pirard, Jerome Paufique, Eszter Pozna, Ralf Siebenmorgen, Armin Silber, Joerg Stegmeier, Stefan Wegerer

Proceedings Volume 5492, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.551480

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Infrared radiation, Spectrographs, Calibration, Adaptive optics, Stars, Infrared spectroscopy, Cryogenics, Prisms, Spectral resolution

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Proceedings Article | 30 September 2004 Paper

X-shooter: UV-to-IR intermediate-resolution high-efficiency spectrograph for the ESO VLT

Sandro D'Odorico, Michael Andersen, Paolo Conconi, Vincenzo De Caprio, Bernard Delabre, Paolo Di Marcantonio, Hans Dekker, Mark Downing, Gert Finger, Paul Groot, Hiddo Hanenburg, Francois Hammer, David Horville, Jens Hjorth, Lex Kaper, Jens Klougart, Per Kjaergaard-Rasmussen, Jean-Louis Lizon, Michel Marteaud, Ruben Mazzoleni, Niels Michaelsen, Roberto Pallavicini, Florence Rigal, Paolo Santin, Anton Norup Soerensen, Paolo Spano, Lars Venema, Pascal Vola, Filippo Zerbi

Proceedings Volume 5492, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550005

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Ultraviolet radiation, Cameras, Sensors, Prisms, Visualization, Telescopes, Charge-coupled devices, Mirrors, Calibration

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Proceedings Article | 30 September 2004 Paper

HAWK-I: A new wide-field 1- to 2.5-μm imager for the VLT

Jean-Francois Pirard, Markus Kissler-Patig, Alan Moorwood, Peter Biereichel, Bernard Delabre, Reinhold Dorn, Gert Finger, Domingo Gojak, Gotthard Huster, Yves Jung, Franz Koch, Miska Le Louarn, Jean-Louis Lizon, Leander Mehrgan, Eszter Pozna, Armin Silber, Barbara Sokar, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 5492, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.578293

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Mirrors, Cryogenics, Optical filters, Telescopes, Imaging systems, Near infrared, Adaptive optics, Cameras, Stars

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Proceedings Article | 30 September 2004 Paper

The CAMCAO infrared camera

Antonio Amorim, Antonio Melo, Joao Alves, Jose Rebordao, Jose Pinhao, Gregoire Bonfait, Jorge Lima, Rui Barros, Rui Fernandes, Isabel Catarino, Marta Carvalho, Rui Marques, Jean-Marc Poncet, Filipe Duarte Santos, Gert Finger, Norbert Hubin, Gotthard Huster, Franz Koch, Jean-Louis Lizon, Enrico Marchetti

Proceedings Volume 5492, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.549008

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Cameras, Optical filters, Mirrors, Adaptive optics, Near infrared, Cryogenics, Infrared cameras, Finite element methods, K band

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Proceedings Article | 29 September 2004 Paper

The CRIRES InSb megapixel focal plane array detector mosaic

Reinhold Dorn, Gert Finger, Gotthard Huster, Hans-Ulrich Kaeufl, Jean-Louis Lizon, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Jean-Francois Pirard, Armin Silber, Joerg Stegmeier, Alan Moorwood

Proceedings Volume 5499, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.551501

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Staring arrays, Ceramics, Black bodies, Aluminum nitride, Infrared sensors, Infrared spectroscopy, Cryogenics, Photons, Connectors

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Proceedings Article | 29 September 2004 Paper

Performance of large-format 2Kx2K MBE grown HgCdTe Hawaii-2RG arrays for low-flux applications

Gert Finger, Reinhold Dorn, Manfred Meyer, Leander Mehrgan, Joerg Stegmeier, Alan Moorwood

Proceedings Volume 5499, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.554044

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Quantum efficiency, Multiplexers, Mercury cadmium telluride, Cryogenics, Liquid phase epitaxy, Infrared radiation, Nondestructive evaluation, Video, Cameras

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Proceedings Article | 29 September 2004 Paper

Performance limitations of small-format high-speed infrared arrays for active control loops in interferometry and adaptive optics

Gert Finger, Roger Smith, Serge Menardi, Reinhold Dorn, Manfred Meyer, Leander Mehrgan, Joerg Stegmeier, Alan Moorwood

Proceedings Volume 5499, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.554322

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Infrared radiation, Multiplexers, Adaptive optics, Interferometry, Infrared sensors, Optical fibers, Mercury cadmium telluride, Infrared detectors, Charge-coupled devices

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Proceedings Article | 7 March 2003 Paper

CONICA design, performance and final laboratory tests

Markus Hartung, Rainer Lenzen, Reiner Hofmann, Armin Böhm, Wolfgang Brandner, Gert Finger, Thierry Fusco, Francois Lacombe, Werner Laun, Philippe Granier, Clemens Storz, Karl Wagner

Proceedings Volume 4841, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460035

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Sensors, Calibration, Imaging spectroscopy, Electrons, Data conversion, Cameras, Spectroscopes, Astronomy, Telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 7 March 2003 Paper

CRIRES: a high-resolution infrared spectrograph for the ESO VLT

Alan Moorwood, Peter Biereichel, Joar Brynnel, Bernard Delabre, Reinhold Dorn, Gert Finger, Francis Franza, Gotthard Huster, Yves Jung, Hans-Ulrich Kaeufl, Franz Koch, Markus Kasper, Raphael Lescouzeres, Jean-Luis Lizon, Hamid Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Jean-Francois Pirard, Ralf Siebenmorgen, Barbara Sokar, Joerg Stegmeier, Guenther Wiedemann

Proceedings Volume 4841, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.457987

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Sensors, Adaptive optics, Prisms, Infrared radiation, Mirrors, Cryogenics, Telescopes, Calibration, Infrared spectroscopy

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Proceedings Article | 7 March 2003 Paper

NAOS-CONICA first on-sky results in a variety of observing modes

Rainer Lenzen, Markus Hartung, Wolfgang Brandner, Gert Finger, Norbert Hubin, Francois Lacombe, Anne-Marie Lagrange, Matthew Lehnert, Alan Moorwood, David Mouillet

Proceedings Volume 4841, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460044

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Diffraction, Imaging spectroscopy, Spectroscopy, Calibration, Polarization, K band, Near infrared, Polarimetry, Spectral resolution

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Proceedings Article | 7 March 2003 Paper

Review of the state of infrared detectors in retrospect of the June 2002 workshop on Scientific Detectors for astronomy

Gert Finger, James Beletic

Proceedings Volume 4841, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.462593

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Mercury cadmium telluride, Liquid phase epitaxy, Infrared detectors, Infrared radiation, Charge-coupled devices, Staring arrays, Infrared sensors, Adaptive optics, Cryogenics

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Proceedings Article | 16 August 2000 Paper

VIMOS and NIRMOS multi-object spectrographs for the ESO VLT

Oliver LeFevre, Michel Saisse, Dario Mancini, Gianpaolo Vettolani, Dario Maccagni, Jean Picat, Yannick Mellier, Alain Mazure, Jean Gabriel Cuby, Bernard Delabre, Bianca Garilli, L. Hill, Eric Prieto, Clothaire Voet, Luc Arnold, Sylvie Brau-Nogue, Enrico Cascone, Paolo Conconi, Gert Finger, Gotthard Huster, Andree Laloge, Christian Lucuix, E. Mattaini, Pietro Schipani, G. Waultier, Filippo Zerbi, Gerardo Avila, James Beletic, Sandro D'Odorico, Alan Moorwood, Guy Monnet, Javier Reyes Moreno

Proceedings Volume 4008, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.395513

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Sensors, Manufacturing, Astronomical imaging, Collimators, Cameras, Observatories, Galactic astronomy, Optics manufacturing, Mirrors

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The VIRMOS consortium of French and Italian Institutes is manufacturing 2 wide field imaging multi-object spectrographs for the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope, with emphasis on the ability to carry over spectroscopic surveys of large numbers of sources. The Visible Multi-Object Spectrograph, VIMOS, is covering the 0.37 to 1 micron wavelength domain, with a full field of view of 4 by 7 by 8 arcmin² in imaging and MOS mode. The Near IR Multi-Object Spectrograph, NIRMOS, is covering the 0.9 to 1.8 microns wavelength range, with afield of view 4 by 6 by 8 arcmin² in MOS mode. The spectral resolution for both instrument scan reach up to R equals 5000 for a 0.5 arcsec wide slit. Multi-slit masks are produced by a dedicated Mask Manufacturing Machine cutting through thin Invar sheets and capable of producing 4 slit masks approximately 300 by 300 mm each with approximately slits 5.7 mm long in less than one hour. Integral field spectroscopy is made possible in VIMOS by switching in the beam specially build masks fed by 6400 fibers coming form a 54 by 54 arcsec² integral field head with a 80 by 80 array of silica micro-lenses. NIRMOS has a similar IFS unit with a field of 30 by 30 arcmin². These instruments are designed to offer very large multiplexing capabilities. In MOS mode, about 1000 objects can be observed simultaneously with VIMOS, with a S/N equals 10 obtained on galaxies with I equals 24 in one hour, and approximately 200 objects can be observed simultaneously with NIRMOS, with a S/N equals 10 obtained don galaxies with J equals 22, H equals 20.6 in 1h at R_eq equals 200. We present here the status of VIMOS, currently under final integration, with expected first light in the summer 2000, together with the final design of NIRMOS presented at the Final Design Review. The VLT-VIRMOS deep redshift survey of more with the final design of NIRMOS presented at the Final Design Review. The VLT-VIRMOS deep redshift survey of more than 150000 galaxies over the redshift range 0 < z < 5 will be undertaken based on 120 guaranteed nights awarded to the project.

Proceedings Article | 16 August 2000 Paper

Performance of large-format HgCdTe and InSb arrays for low-background applications

Gert Finger, Hamid Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Alan Moorwood, Gianalfredo Nicolini, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 4008, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.395445

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Nondestructive evaluation, Multiplexers, Signal detection, Electrons, Video, Charge-coupled devices, Mercury cadmium telluride, Cryogenics, Infrared telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 21 August 1998 Paper

ESO infrared detector high-speed array control and processing electronic IRACE

Manfred Meyer, Gert Finger, Hamid Mehrgan, Gianalfredo Nicolini, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 3354, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317255

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Fiber optics, Data acquisition, Infrared detectors, Detector arrays, Control systems, Data processing, Process control, Computing systems, Infrared sensors

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Proceedings Article | 21 August 1998 Paper

Infrared detector development programs for the VLT instruments at the European Southern Observatory

Gert Finger, Peter Biereichel, Hamid Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Alan Moorwood, Gianalfredo Nicolini, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 3354, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317209

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Mercury cadmium telluride, Infrared radiation, Telescopes, Infrared imaging, Optical amplifiers, Infrared telescopes, Nondestructive evaluation, Infrared spectroscopy, Cryogenics

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Proceedings Article | 21 March 1997 Paper

Megapixel infrared arrays at the European Southern Observatory

Gert Finger, Peter Biereichel, Jean-Luis Lizon, Hamid Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Alan Moorwood, Gianalfredo Nicolini, A. Silber, Joerg Stegmeier

Proceedings Volume 2871, (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.269004

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Infrared radiation, Quantum efficiency, Nondestructive evaluation, Video, Mercury cadmium telluride, Thermography, Data acquisition, Cameras, Signal detection

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Proceedings Article | 6 June 1995 Paper

High-well-capacity InSb infrared arrays for the 1 to 5 um wavelength range

Gert Finger, Gianalfredo Nicolini, Manfred Meyer, Alan Moorwood

Proceedings Volume 2475, (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.211264

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Quantum efficiency, Thermography, Diodes, Infrared radiation, Multiplexers, Temperature metrology, K band, Optical filters, Black bodies

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Proceedings Article | 6 June 1995 Paper

Connection between detector front end and number cruncher with a 1-gigabit-per-second multiplexing fiber optic link

Manfred Meyer, Gert Finger, Hamid Mehrgan

Proceedings Volume 2475, (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.211290

KEYWORDS: Receivers, Fiber optics, Transceivers, Transmitters, Signal processing, Sensors, Data acquisition, Logic, Data transmission, Clocks

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Proceedings Article | 1 June 1994 Paper

Real-time image sharpening without adaptive optics by on-chip tracking

Gert Finger, Peter Biereichel, A. van Dijsseldonk, Manfred Meyer, Alan Moorwood

Proceedings Volume 2198, (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176738

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Sensors, Nondestructive evaluation, Infrared radiation, Infrared cameras, Infrared imaging, Adaptive optics, Cameras, Stars, Speckle

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 1993 Paper

Image sharpening by on-chip tracking in IRAC2

Gert Finger, Peter Biereichel, Manfred Meyer, Alan Moorwood

Proceedings Volume 1946, (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.158724

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Nondestructive evaluation, Signal detection, Infrared detectors, Electrons, Luminescence, Telescopes, Spatial resolution, Infrared cameras, K band

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Proceedings Article | 1 September 1990 Paper

Performance of a InSb hybrid focal plane array

Michael Blessinger, Robert Fischer, Charles Martin, Curtiss Niblack, Harold Timlin, Gert Finger

Proceedings Volume 1308, (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.21727

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Sensors, Multiplexers, Electrons, Quantum efficiency, Infrared detectors, Detector arrays, Capacitance, Multiplexing, Indium

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