Lessons learned from the design, fabrication, integration, and test of a cryogenic IR spectrometer for ground-based astronomy

Jason E. Hylan; Leroy M. Sparr; Raymond G. Ohl; John Eric Mentzell; Matthew A. Greenhouse; John W. MacKenty

doi:10.1117/12.506082

15 October 2003 Lessons learned from the design, fabrication, integration, and test of a cryogenic IR spectrometer for ground-based astronomy

Jason E. Hylan, Leroy M. Sparr, Raymond G. Ohl, John Eric Mentzell, Matthew A. Greenhouse, John W. MacKenty

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5172, Cryogenic Optical Systems and Instruments X; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.506082
Event: Optical Science and Technology, SPIE's 48th Annual Meeting, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Infrared Multi-Object Spectrograph (IRMOS) is a facility instrument for the Kitt Peak National Observatory Mayall Telescope (3.8 meter). IRMOS is a low- to mid-resolving power (R = λ/Δλ = 300-3800), near-IR (0.8-2.5 µm) spectrograph that produces simultaneous spectra of ~100 objects in its 2.8 × 2.0 arcmin field of view using a real-time programmable, multi-aperture field stop. The instrument operating temperature is ~80 K to allow for IR detector operation and for improved K-band performance. The optical bench and mirrors are machined from aluminum 6061-T651, allowing easier ambient temperature optical alignment. IRMOS utilizes four powered mirrors, three flat mirrors, two rotary mechanisms, one linear mechanism, a commercial MEMS multi-mirror array device and a large format, HgCdTe detector. The final design of the instrument and all of its components evolved through several iterations and a series of requirement/feasibility trades. During the design process, we found the heritage of past instruments with similar operating conditions to be invaluable in understanding our challenge, maximizing performance, and minimizing cost. The decision-making process of our design, as well as some of the major technical achievements, are described from a systems point of view in order to provide a list of "lessons learned" for future cryogenic instrument design and construction.

Citation Download Citation

Jason E. Hylan, Leroy M. Sparr, Raymond G. Ohl, John Eric Mentzell, Matthew A. Greenhouse, and John W. MacKenty "Lessons learned from the design, fabrication, integration, and test of a cryogenic IR spectrometer for ground-based astronomy", Proc. SPIE 5172, Cryogenic Optical Systems and Instruments X, (15 October 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.506082

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