The WEAVE fibre positioner: calibration, commissioning, and first-light
<p>This thesis details the final assembly and calibration procedures for the WEAVE fibre positioner, from October 2019 to first-light in September 2022. The positioner was successfully mounted to the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) in May 2022. I present the first-light results of WEAVE for e...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2023
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| _version_ | 1797110350992113664 |
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| author | Hughes, S |
| author2 | Dalton, G |
| author_facet | Dalton, G Hughes, S |
| author_sort | Hughes, S |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p>This thesis details the final assembly and calibration procedures for the WEAVE fibre positioner, from October 2019 to first-light in September 2022. The positioner was successfully mounted to the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) in May 2022. I present the first-light results of WEAVE for each of its three observing modes and discuss whether the positioner has met its design expectations.</p>
<p>Chapter one describes the evolution of astronomical spectroscopy and the scientific motivations behind the construction of WEAVE. This is followed by the instrument design specification and sub-systems required to meet them. Chapter two will focus on the positioner in detail and include the evolution of our quality control methods.</p>
<p>An account of the calibration procedures, in both the lab environment and on the elevation testing rig, is given in chapter three. The test rig revealed flexure behaviour in the positioner's structure, which was modified to correct for this. The calibration work was repeated with improved techniques, to predict changes in the positioner's metrology with elevation. This chapter then presents the results of the fibre movement testing, including the current placement timings</p>
<p>To maximise the scientific output from WEAVE, I applied a series of adjustments to a subset of target fields, identifying methods that will improve the survey output using the fibre assignment program, Configure, and highlight potential selection effects.</p>
<p>Chapter five presents the first-light results and the steps taken to achieve this. It required extensive measurements of the optical distortion map across the FoV, which were carefully mapped using astrometry of the night-sky across our focal plane. I then compare these results with the observational requirements from WEAVE's conception, to define its overall success. Chapter 6 provides an overview of the work completed in this thesis and describes potential upgrades to the instrument in the future.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:53:45Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oxford-uuid:f1643fa2-6221-4db1-8531-d943019be42a |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:53:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:f1643fa2-6221-4db1-8531-d943019be42a2023-07-27T09:16:52ZThe WEAVE fibre positioner: calibration, commissioning, and first-lightThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:f1643fa2-6221-4db1-8531-d943019be42aMetrologyAstronomical InstrumentationEnglishHyrax Deposit2023Hughes, SDalton, GLewis, ITerrett, D<p>This thesis details the final assembly and calibration procedures for the WEAVE fibre positioner, from October 2019 to first-light in September 2022. The positioner was successfully mounted to the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) in May 2022. I present the first-light results of WEAVE for each of its three observing modes and discuss whether the positioner has met its design expectations.</p> <p>Chapter one describes the evolution of astronomical spectroscopy and the scientific motivations behind the construction of WEAVE. This is followed by the instrument design specification and sub-systems required to meet them. Chapter two will focus on the positioner in detail and include the evolution of our quality control methods.</p> <p>An account of the calibration procedures, in both the lab environment and on the elevation testing rig, is given in chapter three. The test rig revealed flexure behaviour in the positioner's structure, which was modified to correct for this. The calibration work was repeated with improved techniques, to predict changes in the positioner's metrology with elevation. This chapter then presents the results of the fibre movement testing, including the current placement timings</p> <p>To maximise the scientific output from WEAVE, I applied a series of adjustments to a subset of target fields, identifying methods that will improve the survey output using the fibre assignment program, Configure, and highlight potential selection effects.</p> <p>Chapter five presents the first-light results and the steps taken to achieve this. It required extensive measurements of the optical distortion map across the FoV, which were carefully mapped using astrometry of the night-sky across our focal plane. I then compare these results with the observational requirements from WEAVE's conception, to define its overall success. Chapter 6 provides an overview of the work completed in this thesis and describes potential upgrades to the instrument in the future.</p> |
| spellingShingle | Metrology Astronomical Instrumentation Hughes, S The WEAVE fibre positioner: calibration, commissioning, and first-light |
| title | The WEAVE fibre positioner: calibration, commissioning, and first-light |
| title_full | The WEAVE fibre positioner: calibration, commissioning, and first-light |
| title_fullStr | The WEAVE fibre positioner: calibration, commissioning, and first-light |
| title_full_unstemmed | The WEAVE fibre positioner: calibration, commissioning, and first-light |
| title_short | The WEAVE fibre positioner: calibration, commissioning, and first-light |
| title_sort | weave fibre positioner calibration commissioning and first light |
| topic | Metrology Astronomical Instrumentation |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hughess theweavefibrepositionercalibrationcommissioningandfirstlight AT hughess weavefibrepositionercalibrationcommissioningandfirstlight |