The Multi-Adaptive Optics Imaging Camera for Deep Observations (MICADO) is one of the first light ESO Extremely-Large-Telescope (ELT) Instruments and is now nearing the completion of its final design stage. The MICADO instrument aims to generate high-resolution images of the Universe at near-infrared wavelengths, which requires maintaining a stable vacuum environment at 82 K inside the MICADO cryostat. To fulfill this requirement and for safety reasons, a PLC-based control software is used. This software communicates with over 180 sensors and devices simultaneously, to remotely maintain the cryostat environment. This paper discusses the software’s design architecture and implementation.
MICADO is a first light instrument for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), set to start operating later this decade. It will provide diffraction limited imaging, astrometry, high contrast imaging, and long slit spectroscopy at near-infrared wavelengths. During the initial phase operations, adaptive optics (AO) correction will be provided by its own natural guide star wavefront sensor. In its final configuration, that AO system will be retained and complemented by the laser guide star multi-conjugate adaptive optics module MORFEO (formerly known as MAORY). Among many other things, MICADO will study exoplanets, distant galaxies and stars, and investigate black holes, such as Sagittarius A* at the centre of the Milky Way. After their final design phase, most components of MICADO have moved on to the manufacturing and assembly phase. Here we summarize the final design of the instrument and provide an overview about its current manufacturing status and the timeline. Some lessons learned from the final design review process will be presented in order to help future instrumentation projects to cope with the challenges arising from the substantial differences between projects for 8-10m class telescopes (e.g. ESO’s VLT) and the next generation Extremely Large Telescopes (e.g. ESO’s ELT). Finally, MICADO's expected performance will be discussed in the context of the current landscape of astronomical observatories and instruments. For instance, MICADO will have similar sensitivity as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), but with six times the spatial resolution.
The Main Selection Mechanism (MSM) is the cryogenic mechanism that will allow to switch between the operational modes of MICADO, the first light instruments for the ESO Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). The mechanism, developed by the Universit¨ats-Sternwarte Muenchen (USM), will be located inside the MICADO cryostat and operate under vacuum conditions at cryogenic temperatures. The MSM consists of a main support structure and a rotating platform, where the MICADO Low Resolution Imager, Spectrometer and Pupil Imager modules are located. Manufacturing and procurement activities for the MSM started in late 2022. In this paper we present the current status of manufacturing and procurement for the MSM, and its overall assembly, integration and test (AIT) plan. AIT activities will start end of 2024, and will be concluded with the cryogenic test of the mechanism inside the USM big test cryostat, before the delivery in 2026 of the mechanism to the MICADO lead institute, the Max-Planck-Institute f¨ur Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE), for its final integration inside the instrument cryostat.
The Main Selection Mechanism (MSM) is the cryogenic subsystem of the Multi-AO Imaging Camera for Deep Observations (MICADO) which allows to switch between the operational modes (imaging, spectroscopy, calibration) of the instrument. MICADO is one of the first light instruments for the ESO Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and operates in the near-infrared wavelength range. The MSM is located inside the MICADO cryostat and it operates under vacuum conditions and cryogenic temperatures (`~82K). The mechanism consists of a main support structure and a rotating platform, where the MICADO Low Resolution Imager, Spectrometer and Pupil Imager modules are located. In this paper we give an overview of the final design of the MSM, which was presented at the MICADO final design review (FDR) in October 2021.
KEYWORDS: Photonic integrated circuits, Control systems, Cryogenics, Control systems design, Telecommunications, Spectroscopes, Sensors, Safety, Near infrared spectroscopy, Imaging spectroscopy
The Multi-Adaptive Optics Imaging Camera for Deep Observations is one of the first light ESO Extremely-Large-Telescope (ELT) Instruments and now in it's final design stage. At a previous SPIE we sketched the PLC-based instrument control system, now we highlight more specific issues like efforts on thermal management system optimization, improvements on harness properties and advantageous controller conceptions - all seen in the context of ESOs requirements. We focus now on details for the 9 motorized cryogenic axis as well as the cryogenic and vacuum control and supervision for the delicate cryostat opto-mechanical and detector components embedded into ESO`s instrument control system environment.
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