Bibcode
Teuwen, M.; Janssen, H.; Casalta, J. M.; Garzón, F.
Bibliographical reference
Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV. Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume 8446, id. 84465N-84465N-6 (2012).
Advertised on:
9
2012
Citations
3
Refereed citations
1
Description
The Configurable Slit Unit (CSU) is a key module of EMIR (wide field NIR
multi-object spectrograph) which will be one of the key next generation
instruments of the Gran Telescopio de Canarias (GTC). The CSU enables a
multi-slit configuration, a long slit, or an imaging aperture in the
6’x6’ (340mm x 340mm) field of view. This is realized by 110
sliding bars which can be configured at cryogenic working temperature to
create 55 slits with a position accuracy of 6 micron. The CSU
incorporates a number of enabling technologies which have been
developed, validated and matured as a part of the total development of
the CSU. Dedicated actuator drive and position measurement technologies
have been successfully developed. Also a selective surface treatment
technology, to give detailed features on the same part opposite
emissivity performances, has been developed. All these technologies are
currently implemented in the realization of the unit. Manufacturing of
components for the unit has challenged state of the art production
equipment and skills to the limit due to the size, number, accuracy and
complexity of the parts and features. Integration and verification of
the CSU is advancing. Both mechanics as electronics have been tested at
sub-module level. Ahead is the challenge of actual integration of the
electronics and software in order to get the mechanical hardware to
operate within specification. Control strategies are developed and tuned
to guarantee robust operation of the unit in cryogenic working
environment. As a final integration step all individual axes are
calibrated with an external interferometer measurement system.