Multitelescope telescope: a cost-effective approach to fiber-fed spectroscopy

William G. Bagnuolo Jr.; Ingemar K. Furenlid; Douglas R. Gies; Donald J. Barry; William H. Russell; John F. Dorsey

doi:10.1117/12.19187

1 July 1990 Multitelescope telescope: a cost-effective approach to fiber-fed spectroscopy

William G. Bagnuolo Jr., Ingemar K. Furenlid, Douglas R. Gies, Donald J. Barry, William H. Russell, John F. Dorsey

Proceedings Volume 1236, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes IV; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19187
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1990, Tucson, AZ, United States

Abstract

We describe a new spectroscopic facility based upon a novel Multi- Telescope Telescope (MTT) and a fiber optic fed spectrograph. The MTT is an inexpensive one meter light collecting telescope, whose "primary" mirror consists of nine commercially made amateur-size (33.3 cm) telescope mirrors. Each mirror of the MTT will focus light into a separate optical fiber, thus avoiding the light loss associated with the dead space in conventional fiber bundles. Throughput is further enhanced by low mirror obscuration and having only one reflection from the high reflectivity coatings available for smaller mirrors. The telescope is thus equivalent to about a 1.3-m conventional telescope for spectroscopy. The optical fibers will feed an off-plane Ebert-Fastie spectrograph with a COD detector. We conservatively estimate an overall optical efficiency of about 2.7% (4.4% without a slit at somewhat lower resolution), which corresponds to a limitirg magnitude of 9.4 for 1000 sec exposure, SNR=100, and a resolution of 0.2 A/pixel. By using a combination of an innovative structure, a control system, some existing materials, and donated shop time we can reduce the material cost of the telescope, spectrograph, and detector to about *35K to $55K, depending on the detector. The MTT and spectrograph will be installed at the newly commissioned Georgia State University Hard Labor Creek Observatory and will be used for spectroscopic observations of binaries and nonradial pulsations in Be stars.

Citation Download Citation

William G. Bagnuolo Jr., Ingemar K. Furenlid, Douglas R. Gies, Donald J. Barry, William H. Russell, and John F. Dorsey "Multitelescope telescope: a cost-effective approach to fiber-fed spectroscopy", Proc. SPIE 1236, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes IV, (1 July 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19187

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KEYWORDS

Telescopes

Mirrors

Spectrographs

Space telescopes

Control systems

Sensors

Signal to noise ratio

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