Optics enhance spectrograph performance

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jan 24, 2007

Optical Surfaces has established an international reputation for supplying high precision spectrograph optics for land and space based telescopes.

Drawing on a highly experienced team of optical designers, engineers and skilled production staff and a unique high stability manufacturing environment, Optical Surfaces has established an international reputation for supplying high precision spectrograph optics for land and space based telescopes.

A spectrograph is an instrument that is used to study the chemical/physical conditions that exist through a cross-section of space.

Combined with an astronomical telescope a spectrograph can reveal the details that are stored in the spectral distribution of light from a distant astronomical body.

Notable spectrograph optics projects completed by Optical Surfaces include high precision optics and optical systems for the FEROS fibre-fed extended range optical spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in La Silla, Chile, the ESPaDOnS project at the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope (CFHT) and the WYFFOS wide field fibre optic fed spectrograph based on the 4.2m William Hershel Telescope on the island of La Palma.

With the main workshops and test facilities deep underground in an area excavated from solid chalk, temperatures in Optical Surfaces production facility remain constant year-round and vibration is practically nonexistent.

These are important considerations when making, mounting and testing high precision telescope spectrograph optics.

Benefiting from this unique stabilised environment Optical Surfaces has developed a reputation for designing and producing large and demanding telescope spectrograph optics (aspherics, mirrors, prisms, lenses and flats) that would stretch the limits of conventional optical fabrication techniques.

Investment in a range of interferometers allows one-to-one testing of even the largest diameter spectrograph optics.

Topographic and fringe analysis provides precise testing of surface roughness and confirms the wavefront of various surface forms.

Operating a rolling program for calibration of test optics where possible to national standards and production approval to ISO9001:2000 ensures that the quality of telescope spectrograph optics from Optical Surfaces is second to none.