Performance of AAOmega: the AAT multi-purpose fiber-fed spectrograph

Robert Sharp; Will Saunders; Greg Smith; Vladimir Churilov; David Correll; John Dawson; Tony Farrel; Gabriella Frost; Roger Haynes; Ron Heald; Allan Lankshear; Don Mayfield; Lew Waller; Dennis Whittard

doi:10.1117/12.671022

27 June 2006 Performance of AAOmega: the AAT multi-purpose fiber-fed spectrograph

Robert Sharp, Will Saunders, Greg Smith, Vladimir Churilov, David Correll, John Dawson, Tony Farrel, Gabriella Frost, Roger Haynes, Ron Heald, Allan Lankshear, Don Mayfield, Lew Waller, Dennis Whittard

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6269, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy; 62690G (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671022
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

AAOmega is the new spectrograph for the 2dF fibre-positioning system on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. It is a bench-mounted, double-beamed design, using volume phase holographic (VPH) gratings and articulating cameras. It is fed by 392 fibres from either of the two 2dF field plates, or by the 512 fibre SPIRAL integral field unit (IFU) at Cassegrain focus. Wavelength coverage is 370 to 950nm and spectral resolution 1,000-8,000 in multi-Object mode, or 1,500-10,000 in IFU mode. Multi-object mode was commissioned in January 2006 and the IFU system will be commissioned in June 2006. The spectrograph is located off the telescope in a thermally isolated room and the 2dF fibres have been replaced by new 38m broadband fibres. Despite the increased fibre length, we have achieved a large increase in throughput by use of VPH gratings, more efficient coatings and new detectors - amounting to a factor of at least 2 in the red. The number of spectral resolution elements and the maximum resolution are both more than doubled, and the stability is an order of magnitude better. The spectrograph comprises: an f/3.15 Schmidt collimator, incorporating a dichroic beam-splitter; interchangeable VPH gratings; and articulating red and blue f/1.3 Schmidt cameras. Pupil size is 190mm, determined by the competing demands of cost, obstruction losses, and maximum resolution. A full suite of VPH gratings has been provided to cover resolutions 1,000 to 7,500, and up to 10,000 at particular wavelengths.

Citation Download Citation

Robert Sharp, Will Saunders, Greg Smith, Vladimir Churilov, David Correll, John Dawson, Tony Farrel, Gabriella Frost, Roger Haynes, Ron Heald, Allan Lankshear, Don Mayfield, Lew Waller, and Dennis Whittard "Performance of AAOmega: the AAT multi-purpose fiber-fed spectrograph", Proc. SPIE 6269, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy, 62690G (27 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671022

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available