The discovery of a fair sample of Earth-analogues (Earth 2.0’s), i.e. rocky, Earth-mass exoplanets orbiting a Solar-type star in that host star’s habitable zone, and a subsequent search of evidence of bioactivity on those Earth 2.0’s by the detection of biogenically produced molecules in those exoplanetary atmospheres, are two of the most urgent observational programs in astrophysics and science in general. To identify an Earth 2.0, it is necessary to measure the reflex motion radial velocity amplitude of the host star at the 10 cm/sec level, a precision considerably below that which is currently achievable with existing instruments. The follow-on project to search for the biomarkers in an Earth 2.0’s atmosphere may require an effective planet/star contrast of 10-10, again well below the currently achievable level. In this paper, we discuss technical innovations in the implementation of the GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF) spectrograph that will enable these observational objectives. We discuss plans to operate G-CLEF at the Magellan Clay telescope with the MagAO-X adaptive optics system and subsequently with GMagAO-X at the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT).
We introduce an optical system design of the calibration system for Giant Magellan Telescope Near-Infrared Spectrograph (GMTNIRS), capable of operating across a wavelength range of 1.08 - 5.4 μm. The calibration system fulfills several critical functions, including flat-fielding, wavelength calibration, dark current measurements, and focusing of the spectrograph. The system consists of flat lamp collimator, illuminator, relay optics, and three targets – the USAF 1951 resolution target, a pinhole, and a dark mirror. The focal ratio of the output beam in image space is designed to be 8, replicating the Giant Magellan Telescope. The flatness of the light from the calibration system is evaluated using a non-sequential ray tracing method, confirming over 99% flatness across the slit area.
IGRINS-2 is a high-resolution, near-infrared spectrograph developed by Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) for Gemini Observatory as a new facility instrument. It provides spectral resolving power of ~45,000 and a simultaneous wavelength coverage of 1.49-2.46 μm. IGRINS-2 is an improved version of IGRINS (Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrometer) with minor optical and mechanical design changes, new detector controllers, and operating software to be fully integrated into Gemini operating systems. Since the project began in early 2020, project key milestones including assembly and pre-delivery performance verification were completed, and delivered to Gemini North in early September, 2023. After the successful post-delivery verification and telescope integration, the first light spectra were acquired in October 2023. We present design changes and upgrades made to IGRINS-2 from the original IGRINS, assembly and alignment procedures, and verification of the instrument requirements. We also report the preliminary results of the system performance tests.
We are developing, the second generation of Immersion GRating INfrared Spectrometer, IGRINS-2 which will be a dedicated facility instrument of the Gemini Observatory. IGRINS has been in active operation for more than 8 years since 2014, including recent visits to the Gemini South telescope. House Keeping Package (HKP) of the IGRINS-2 control software monitors temperature, vacuum pressure, and Power Distribution Unit (PDU) of the hardware components, and controls PDU and calibration unit (the motors and the lamps). Slit Camera Package (SCP) and Data Taking Package (DTP) operate the infrared array detectors of Detector Control System (DCS). The interface board for each H2RG detector in IGRINS-2 has been changed from JADE2 to MACIE, which leads us to develop our own control software using the MACIE library in DCS. The IGRINS-2 software will communicate with Gemini Master Process (GMP) through Gemini Instrument Application Programmer Interface (GIAPI). This work presents the design and development process of the IGRINS-2 control software.
GMTNIRS, the Giant Magellan Telescope Near-Infrared Spectrograph, is a high resolution (R=65,000~80,000) near-infrared spectrograph selected as a first-generation instrument for the Giant Magellan Telescope. The instrument covers J, H, K, L, and M spectral bands in a single shot through 6-channel spectrographs. The L band is shared by two channels. Thanks to the use of silicon immersion gratings, the design is compact for its capability. GMTNIRS will be located on the GMT instrument rotator upper disk and operating in adaptive optics mode. We detail the optical system design, imaging performance, spectral formats, and fabrication/alignment budget.
GMTNIRS, the Giant Magellan Telescope Near-Infrared Spectrograph, is a high resolution (R = 65,000 - 80,000) near infrared spectrograph selected as a first-generation instrument for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). It simultaneously observes the J, H, K, L, and M bands using five immersion gratings. GMTNIRS will be located on the GMT instrument rotator upper disk and operating in adaptive optics mode. The cryostat and optical bench design is based on the heritage of the highly successful immersion grating spectrograph, IGRINS. The cryostat is octagonal with a width of 1.7 m and a height of 1 m. It consists of top piece, bottom plate, passive radiation shields, and warm window assembly. Cryocoolers, electronics, and vacuum components are installed on the bottom plate. The optical bench system is comprised of two optical benches, bench interface structure, and active radiation shield. It is thermally isolated from the cryostat by eight sets of G10 supports. The sub-bench accommodates the fore-optics, a pupil mask, and an on instrument wave front sensor, while the spectrographs, slit-mask imager, and slit viewing camera are located on the main bench. Structure and thermal analysis have been performed to verify bench flexure by gravity vector change, integrity of the cryostat by vacuum pressure, and temperature distribution at the operating temperature of 70 K. We also present some design strategies to prevent light leakage.
GMTNIRS, the first-generation instrument of the Giant Magellan Telescope, is a high-resolution (R = 65,000 – 80,000) near-infrared spectrograph. We introduce the preliminary design of optical mounts for slit, beam splitters, mirrors, and gratings installed in the cryogenic spectrograph. Optical components are mounted on aluminum structures and fixed by titanium springs and spring plungers. Static analysis of optical mounts with 1g-force at various directions has been performed to verify the stability of the optical system. In addition, stability in the seismic environment is evaluated with modal analysis and non-linear dynamic analysis. Design and simulation results are compared to the tolerance limits of the system.
GMTNIRS (Giant Magellan Telescope Near-Infrared Spectrograph) is a high resolution (R = 65,000 – 80,000) wide-band near-infrared spectrograph, one of the first-generation instruments of the Giant Magellan Telescope. We present the preliminary design of the electronics system including temperature control, power distribution, vacuum pressure monitoring, moving mechanism, and packaging. Design for infrared detector subsystems for science bands (J, H, K, L, and M) and a slit-view camera is planned. The electronics system makes use of EtherCAT as fieldbus standard according to the requirement of the GMT.
This paper describes the deployment of the GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF) at the Clay telescope, one of the two Magellan telescopes, in late 2025, moving to the GMT in 2030. G-CLEF is a fiber-fed, ultra-high stability optical band echelle spectrograph designed for extremely precise stellar radial velocity measurement. On the Magellan Clay telescope, G-CLEF will take spectra with resolution up to ~300,000, fully resolving molecular spectral features and opening totally new discovery space for exoplanet atmosphere composition studies. G@M will also be coupled to the Magellan extreme adaptive optics facility, MagAO-X which will allow it to spatially resolve several exoplanets from their host stars. We provide a system description of the G@M instrument as it will be configured at Magellan. A top-level review of optomechanics, electronics and control systems follows, as well as a description of several risk-reduction exercises the team has undertaken.
We undertake to build a new cross dispersed infrared spectrograph, whose design is a heritage of IGRINS, will be deployed at Gemini Telescope as facility instrument (IGRINS II). The Sunpower Cryotel GT cryocooler may be replaced with the current GM cooler in the future. The only drawback of using a stirling cryocooler is vibration and this may have a significant influence to astronomical instrument by decreasing the signal to noise ratio. On this test the induced vibration in all three axes were measured simultaneously on the external cyrostats bottom and internal cold stage linked to coldhead by a flexible thermal strap. The cryocooler was integrated with a compliant mount of the neoprene rubber or spring. The test was carried out with both the tuned vibration absorber (TVA) damper and active vibration cancellation (AVC) unit, when the temperature of cold stage went down to 70 K.
The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) will feature two Gregorian secondary mirrors, an adaptive secondary mirror (ASM) and a fast-steering secondary mirror (FSM). The FSM has an effective diameter of 3.2 m and consists of seven 1.1 m diameter circular segments, which are conjugated 1:1 to the seven 8.4m segments of the primary. Each FSM segment contains a tip-tilt capability for fast guiding to attenuate telescope wind shake and mount control jitter. This tiptilt capability thus enhances performance of the telescope in the seeing limited observation mode. The tip-tilt motion of the mirror is produced by three piezo actuators. In this paper we present a simulation model of the tip-tilt system which focuses on the piezo-actuators. The model includes hysteresis effects in the piezo elements and the position feedback control loop.
KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Telescopes, Actuators, Space telescopes, Off axis mirrors, Integrated modeling, Interfaces, Optical instrument design, Phase transfer function, Control systems
The Fast-Steering Secondary Mirror (FSM) of Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) consists of seven 1.1m diameter segments with effective diameter of 3.2m. Each segment is held by three axial supports and a central lateral support with a vacuum system for pressure compensation. Both on-axis and off-axis mirror segments are optimized under various design considerations. Each FSM segment contains a tip-tilt capability for guiding to attenuate telescope wind shake and mount control jitter. The design of the FSM mirror and support system configuration was optimized using finite element analyses and optical performance analyses. The design of the mirror cell assembly will be performed including sub-assembly parts consisting of axial supports, lateral support, breakaway mechanism, seismic restraints, and pressure seal. . In this paper, the mechanical results and optical performance results are addressed for the optimized FSM mirror and mirror cell assembly, the design considerations are addressed, and performance prediction results are discussed in detail with respect to the specifications
The Fast-steering Secondary Mirror (FSM) of Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) consists of seven 1.1 m diameter circular segments with an effective diameter of 3.2 m, which are conjugated 1:1 to the seven 8.4 m segments of the primary. Each FSM segment contains a tip-tilt capability for fast guiding to attenuate telescope wind shake and mount control jitter by adapting axial support actuators. Breakaway System (BAS) is installed for protecting FSM from seismic overload or other unknown shocks in the axial support. When an earthquake or other unknown shocks come in, the springs in the BAS should limit the force along the axial support axis not to damage the mirror. We tested a single BAS in the lab by changing the input force to the BAS in a resolution of 10 N and measuring the displacement of the system. In this paper, we present experimental results from changing the input force gradually. We will discuss the detailed characteristics of the BAS in this report.
The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) will be equipped with two Gregorian secondary mirrors: a fast-steering mirror (FSM) system for seeing-limited operations and an adaptive secondary mirror (ASM) for adaptive optics observing modes. The FSM has an effective diameter of 3.2 m and is comprised of seven 1.1 m diameter circular segments, which are conjugated 1:1 to the seven 8.4m segments of the primary. Each FSM segment has a tip-tilt capability for fast guiding to attenuate telescope wind shake and jitter. To verify the tip-tilt performance at various orientations, we performed tiptilt tests using a conceptual prototype of the FSM (FSMP) which was developed at KASI for R&D of key technologies for FSM. In this paper, we present configuration, methodology, results, and lessons from the FSMP test which will be considered in the development of FSM.
The Fast Steering Secondary Mirror (FSM) for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) will have seven 1.05 m diameter circular segments and rapid tip-tilt capability to stabilize images under wind loading. In this paper, we report on the assembly, integration, and test (AIT) plan for this complex opto-mechanical system. Each fast-steering mirror segment has optical, mechanical, and electrical components that support tip-tilt capability for fine coalignment and fast guiding to attenuate wind shake and jitter. The components include polished and lightweighted mirror, lateral support, axial support assembly, seismic restraints, and mirror cell. All components will be assembled, integrated and tested to the required mechanical and optical tolerances following a concrete plan. Prior to assembly, fiducial references on all components and subassemblies will be located by three-dimensional coordinate measurement machines to assist with assembly and initial alignment. All electronics components are also installed at designed locations. We will integrate subassemblies within the required tolerances using precision tooling and jigs. Performance tests of both static and dynamic properties will be conducted in different orientations, including facing down, horizontal pointing, and intermediate angles using custom tools. In addition, the FSM must be capable of being easily and safely removed from the top-end assemble and recoated during maintenance. In this paper, we describe preliminary AIT plan including our test approach, equipment list, and test configuration for the FSM segments.
The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) will be equipped with two Gregorian secondary mirrors; a fast-steering secondary mirror (FSM) for seeing-limited operations and an adaptive secondary mirror (ASM) for adaptive optics observing modes. The FSM has an effective diameter of 3.2 m and is comprised of seven 1.1 m diameter circular segments, which are conjugated 1:1 to the seven 8.4m segments of the primary mirror. Each FSM segment has a tip-tilt capability for fast guiding to attenuate telescope wind shake and jitter. The FSM is mounted on a two-stage positioning system; a macro-cell that positions the entire FSM segments as an assembly and seven hexapod actuators that position and drive the individual FSM segments. In this paper, we present a technical overview of the FSM development status. More details in each area of development will be presented in other papers by the FSM team.
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