MOONS – multi-object spectroscopy for the VLT: DMD based instrument calibration system

D. Lee; M. Black; X. Gao; S. Beard; A. O'Brien; A. Macleod; J. Moffat; D. Atkinson; K. Campbell; W. Taylor

doi:10.1117/12.2629980

29 August 2022 MOONS – multi-object spectroscopy for the VLT: DMD based instrument calibration system

D. Lee, M. Black, X. Gao, S. Beard, A. O'Brien, A. Macleod, J. Moffat, D. Atkinson, K. Campbell, W. Taylor

Proceedings Volume 12188, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation V; 1218850 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629980
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2022, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Conference Poster

Abstract

The MOONS (Multiple-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph) is a fibre-fed spectrograph for the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. It will provide simultaneous observations of up to 1,000 objects covering the wavelength range 650 nm to 1800 nm. MOONS will also provide an observing mode with 500 object-sky pairs to provide precise sky-subtraction by nodding between object and sky. For this observing mode to be successful the instrument must be well calibrated and the relative throughput of each optical fibre known. The MOONS instrument throughput and wavelength calibration will be characterised, on a daily basis, using the on-board calibration system. The calibration system will illuminate the instrument via a deployable diffuse reflective screen located in front of the focal surface containing the optical fibres. The calibration system provides both spectral calibration via arc lamp illumination, and flat-field illumination via a Digital Micro-mirror Device (DMD) based projector system. This paper will provide a summary of the design and performance of the MOONS calibration system. Flat-field performance results will be presented which demonstrate the calibration unit achieves better than 2% peak to valley illumination uniformity across the 880 mm diameter flat-field screen.

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D. Lee, M. Black, X. Gao, S. Beard, A. O'Brien, A. Macleod, J. Moffat, D. Atkinson, K. Campbell, and W. Taylor "MOONS – multi-object spectroscopy for the VLT: DMD based instrument calibration system", Proc. SPIE 12188, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation V, 1218850 (29 August 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629980

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