The Large Fiber Array Spectroscopic Telescope: opto-mechanical design and architecture

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper describes the preliminary mechanical design and optomechanics of LFAST, the Large Fiber Array Spectroscopic Telescope. The 1,200 m2 array comprises 132, open air, alt-az tracking mounts, each carrying 20 small coaligned telescopes in a 5 m square U-shaped space frame about a central, dual-axis worm drive. Each unit telescope has a 0.76 m, f/3.5 mirror, a prime focus assembly with field corrector and a guide camera, and feeds a 17um, 1.3 arcsecond optical fiber. LFAST was designed specifically as a fiber fed spectroscopic telescope. By being built from thousands of mass-produced components it will be much cheaper per square meter of collecting area than phased monolithic telescopes currently under construction, like GMT and ELT. Cost effective dome-less operation is made possible by the structural design that maximizes stiffness and active compensation for wind induced jitter. The primary mirrors are protected when not in use by sub-horizon pointing of tracking mount and mirror covers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationGround-Based and Airborne Telescopes IX
EditorsHeather K. Marshall, Jason Spyromilio, Tomonori Usuda
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510653450
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
EventGround-Based and Airborne Telescopes IX 2022 - Montreal, United States
Duration: Jul 17 2022Jul 22 2022

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume12182
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceGround-Based and Airborne Telescopes IX 2022
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityMontreal
Period7/17/227/22/22

Keywords

  • Array Telescope
  • LFAST
  • Optomechanical Design
  • Passive Support
  • Whiffle Tree

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Instrumentation
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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