X-shooter near-IR spectrograph arm: design and manufacturing methods

Ramon Navarro; Eddy Elswijk; Menno de Haan; Hiddo Hanenburg; Rik ter Horst; Pawel Kleszcz; Jan Kragt; Johan Pragt; Florence Rigal; Ronald Roelfsema; Ton Schoenmaker; Niels Tromp; Lars Venema; Paul Groot; Lex Kaper

doi:10.1117/12.670549

6 July 2006 X-shooter near-IR spectrograph arm: design and manufacturing methods

Ramon Navarro, Eddy Elswijk, Menno de Haan, Hiddo Hanenburg, Rik ter Horst, Pawel Kleszcz, Jan Kragt, Johan Pragt, Florence Rigal, Ronald Roelfsema, Ton Schoenmaker, Niels Tromp, Lars Venema, Paul Groot, Lex Kaper

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6273, Optomechanical Technologies for Astronomy; 62733O (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670549
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

X-shooter, the first 2nd generation VLT instrument, is a new high-efficiency echelle spectrograph. X-shooter operates at the Cassegrain focus and covers an exceptionally wide spectral range from 300 to 2500 nm in a single exposure, with an intermediate spectral resolving power R~5000. The instrument consists of a central structure and three prism cross-dispersed echelle spectrographs optimized for the UV-blue, visible and near-IR wavelength ranges. The design of the near-IR arm of the X-shooter instrument employs advanced design methods and manufacturing techniques. Integrated system design is done at cryogenic working temperatures, aiming for an almost alignment-free integration. ASTRON Extreme Light Weighting is used for high stiffness at low mass. Bare aluminium is post-polished to optical quality mirrors, preserving high shape accuracy at cryogenic conditions. Cryogenic optical mounts compensate for CTE differences of various materials, while ensuring high thermal contact. This paper addresses the general design and the application of these specialized techniques.

Citation Download Citation

Ramon Navarro, Eddy Elswijk, Menno de Haan, Hiddo Hanenburg, Rik ter Horst, Pawel Kleszcz, Jan Kragt, Johan Pragt, Florence Rigal, Ronald Roelfsema, Ton Schoenmaker, Niels Tromp, Lars Venema, Paul Groot, and Lex Kaper "X-shooter near-IR spectrograph arm: design and manufacturing methods", Proc. SPIE 6273, Optomechanical Technologies for Astronomy, 62733O (6 July 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670549

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