Experiments at the W.M. Keck Observatory to support the Thirty Meter Telescope design work

Warren Skidmore; Tony Travouillon; Reed Riddle; Kyle Kinoshita; Richard Johnston; Phil Murg; Hugh Thompson; Richard Matsuda; Mark Colavita; Grant Tolleth; Robert Goodrich; Elizabeth Chock; Hilton Lewis; Sergey Panteleev

doi:10.1117/12.857960

6 August 2010 Experiments at the W.M. Keck Observatory to support the Thirty Meter Telescope design work

Warren Skidmore, Tony Travouillon, Reed Riddle, Kyle Kinoshita, Richard Johnston, Phil Murg, Hugh Thompson, Richard Matsuda, Mark Colavita, Grant Tolleth, Robert Goodrich, Elizabeth Chock, Hilton Lewis, Sergey Panteleev

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III; 773350 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857960
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In order to validate various assumptions about the operating environment of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), to validate the modeling packages being used to guide the design work for the TMT and to directly investigate the expected operation of several subsystems we have embarked on an extensive campaign of environmental measurements at the Keck telescopes. We have measured and characterized the vibration environment around the observatory floor and at certain locations on the telescope over a range of operating conditions. Similarly the acoustic environment around the telescope and primary mirror has been characterized for frequencies above 2 Hz. The internal and external wind and temperature fields are being measured using combined sonic anemometer and PRT sensors. We are measuring the telescope position error and drive torque signals in order to investigate the wind induced telescope motions. A scintillometer mounted on the telescope is measuring the optical turbulence inside the telescope tube. This experimental work is supplemented by an extensive analysis of telescope and engineering sensor log files and measurements, primarily those of accelerometers located on the main telescope optics, primary mirror segment edge sensor error signals (residuals), telescope structure temperature measurements and the telescope status information.

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Warren Skidmore, Tony Travouillon, Reed Riddle, Kyle Kinoshita, Richard Johnston, Phil Murg, Hugh Thompson, Richard Matsuda, Mark Colavita, Grant Tolleth, Robert Goodrich, Elizabeth Chock, Hilton Lewis, and Sergey Panteleev "Experiments at the W.M. Keck Observatory to support the Thirty Meter Telescope design work", Proc. SPIE 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III, 773350 (6 August 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857960

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