91̽»¨

Skip to main content
Department Of Physics text logo
  • Research
    • Our research
    • Our research groups
    • Our research in action
    • Research funding 91̽»¨
    • Summer internships for undergraduates
  • Study
    • Undergraduates
    • Postgraduates
  • Engage
    • For alumni
    • For business
    • For schools
    • For the public
  • Support
91̽»¨
Part of a WEAVE fibre configuration

Part of the WEAVE focal plane showing optical fibres positioned on a set of targets in the telescope focal plane.

Prof Gavin Dalton

Professor of Astrophysics

Research theme

  • Astronomy and astrophysics

Sub department

  • Astrophysics

Research groups

  • Astronomical instrumentation
  • Extremely Large Telescope
Gavin.Dalton@physics.ox.ac.uk
  • About
  • Research
  • Publications

Manufacturing process for the WEAVE Prime Focus Corrector optics for the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope

Proceedings of SPIE Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers 9912 (2016)

Authors:

Emilie Lhomé, Tibor Agócs, Don C Abrams, Kevin M Dee, Kevin F Middleton, Ian AJ Tosh, Attila Jaskó, Peter Connor, Dave Cochrane, Luke Gers, Graeme Jonas, Andrew Rakich, Gavin Dalton, Chris R Benn, Marc Balcells, Scott C Trager, Esperanza Carrasco, Antonella Vallenari, Piercarlo Bonifacio, J Alfonso L Aguerri

Abstract:

In this paper, we detail the manufacturing process for the lenses that will constitute the new two-degree field-of-view Prime Focus Corrector (PFC) for the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope (WHT) optimised for the upcoming WEAVE Multi-Object Spectroscopy (MOS) facility. The corrector, including an Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector (ADC), is made of six large lenses, the largest being 1.1-meter diameter. We describe how the prescriptions of the optical design were translated into manufacturing specifications for the blanks and lenses. We explain how the as-built glass blank parameters were fed back into the optical design and how the specifications for the lenses were subsequently modified. We review the critical issues for the challenging manufacturing process and discuss the trade-offs that were necessary to deliver the lenses while maintaining the optimal optical performance. A short description of the lens optical testing is also presented. Finally, the subsequent manufacturing steps, including assembly, integration, and alignment are outlined.

The WEAVE focus translation system: from design to construction

Proceedings of SPIE Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers 9912 (2016) 99126D

Authors:

Manuel Canchado, Antonio Romero, Oscar Maroto, Albert Tomàs, Carlos Martin-Nuño, Joan M Casalta, Joaquín Prida, J Alfonso L Aguerri, José M Herreros, José M Delgado, José A Burgal, Don C Abrams, Kevin Dee, Gavin Dalton, Piercarlo Bonfacio, Scott C Trager, Antonella Vallenari

Abstract:

WEAVE is a new wide-field spectroscopy facility proposed for the prime focus of the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope (WHT), placed in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.


To allow for the compensation of the effects of temperature-induced and gravity-induced image degradation, the WEAVE prime focus assembly will be translated along the telescope optical axis. The assembly comprises the prime focus corrector with integrated ADC, a central mount for the corrector, an instrument rotator and a twin-focal-plane fibre positioner. Translation is accomplished through the use of a set of purpose-built actuators; collectively referred to as the Focus Translation System (FTS), formed by four independently-controlled Focus Translation Units (FTUs), eight vanes connecting the FTUs to a central can, and a central can hosting WEAVE Instrument. Each FTU is capable of providing a maximum stroke of ±4mm with sufficient, combined force to move the five-tonne assembly with a positional accuracy of ±20µm at a resolution of 5µm. The coordinated movement of the four FTUs allows ±3mm WEAVE focus adjustment in the optical axis and ±0.015º tilt correction in one axis. The control of the FTS is accomplished through a PLC-based subsystem that receives positional demands from the higher-level Instrument Control System.


SENER has been responsible for designing, manufacturing and testing the FTS and the equipment required to manipulate and store the FTS together with the instrument.


This manuscript describes the final design of the FTS along with the analyses and simulations that were performed, discusses the manufacturing procedures and the results of early verification prior to integration with the telescope. The plans for mounting the whole system on the telescope are also discussed.

Echidna Mark II: one giant leap for 'tilting spine' fibre positioning technology

(2016)

Authors:

James Gilbert, Gavin Dalton

The Subaru FMOS Galaxy Redshift Survey (FastSound). II. The emission line catalog and properties of emission line galaxies

Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan 91̽»¨ University Press 68:3 (2016) 47

Authors:

Hiroyuki Okada, Tomonori Totani, Motonari Tonegawa, Masayuki Akiyama, Gavin Dalton, Karl Glazebrook, Fumihide Iwamuro, Kouji Ohta, Naruhisa Takato, Naoyuki Tamura, Kiyoto Yabe, Andrew J Bunker, Tomotsugu Goto, Chiaki Hikage, Takashi Ishikawa, Teppei Okamura, Ikkoh Shimizu

Abstract:

We present basic properties of ∼3,300 emission line galaxies detected by the FastSound survey, which are mostly Hα emitters at z ∼ 1.2–1.5 in the total area of about 20 deg2 , with the Hα flux sensitivity limit of ∼ 1.6 × 10−16 erg cm−2 s −1 at 4.5 sigma. This paper presents the catalogs of the FastSound emission lines and galaxies, which is open to the public. We also present basic properties of typical FastSound Hα emitters, which have Hα luminosities of 1041.8–1043.3 erg/s, SFRs of 20–500 M⊙/yr, and stellar masses of 1010.0–1011.3 M⊙. The 3D distribution maps for the four fields of CFHTLS W1–4 are presented, clearly showing large scale clustering of galaxies at the scale of ∼ 100–600 comoving Mpc. Based on 1,105 galaxies with detections of multiple emission lines, we estimate that contamination of non-Hα lines is about 4% in the single-line emission galaxies, which are mostly [OIII]λ5007. This contamination fraction is also confirmed by the stacked spectrum of all the FastSound spectra, in which Hα, [NII]λλ6548,6583, [SII]λλ6717,6731, and [OI]λλ6300,6364 are seen.

The Subaru FMOS galaxy redshift survey (FastSound). IV. New constraint on gravity theory from redshift space distortions at z similar to 1.4

PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 68:3 (2016) ARTN 38

Authors:

T Okumura, C Hikage, T Totani, M Tonegawa, H Okada, K Glazebrook, C Blake, PG Ferreira, S More, A Taruya, S Tsujikawa, M Akiyama, G Dalton, T Goto, T Ishikawa, F Iwamuro, T Matsubara, T Nishimichi, K Ohta, I Shimizu, R Takahashi, N Takato, N Tamura, K Yabe, N Yoshida

Pagination

  • First page First
  • Previous page Prev
  • …
  • Page 15
  • Page 16
  • Page 17
  • Page 18
  • Current page 19
  • Page 20
  • Page 21
  • Page 22
  • Page 23
  • …
  • Next page Next
  • Last page Last

Footer 91̽»¨

  • Contact us
  • Giving to the Dept of Physics
  • Work with us
  • Media

User account menu

  • Log in

Follow us

FIND US

Clarendon Laboratory,

Parks Road,

91̽»¨,

OX1 3PU

CONTACT US

Tel: +44(0)1865272200

Department Of Physics text logo

© 91̽»¨ - Department of Physics

Cookies | Privacy policy | Accessibility statement

  • Home
  • Research
  • Study
  • Engage
  • Our people
  • News & Comment
  • Events
  • Our facilities & services
  • About us
  • Giving to Physics