Astronomical instrumentation

Abstract:

SPIFFI (SPectrometer for Infrared Faint Field Imaging) is the integral field spectrograph of the VLT-instrument SINFONI (SINgle Far Object Near-infrared Investigation). SINFONI is the combination of SPIFFI with the ESO adaptive optics system MACAO (Multiple Application Concept for Adaptive Optics) offering for the first time adaptive optics assisted near infrared integral field spectroscopy at an 8m-telescope. SPIFFI works in the wavelength ranger from 1.1 to 2.5 mu m with a spectral resolving power ranging from R = 2000 to 4500. Pixel scale ranges from 0.25 to 0.025 seconds of are. The SPIFFI field-of-view consists of 32 x 32 pixels which are rearranged with an image slicer to a form a long slit.Based on the 3D slicer concept with plane mirrors, an enhanced image slicer was developed. The SPIFFI image slicer consists of two sets of mirrors, called the small and the large slicer. The small slicer cuts a square field of view into 32 slitlets, each of which is 32 pixels long. The large slicer rearranges the 32 slitlets into a 1024 pixels long slit. The modifications to the 3D slicer concept affect the angles of the plane mirrors of small and large slicer and lead to an improved slit geometry with very little light losses. At a mirror width of 0.3mm the light loss is < 10%. All reflective surfaces are flat and can be manufactured with a high surface quality. This is especially important for the adaptive optics mode of SINFONI. We explain the concept of the SPIFFI mirror slicer and describe details of the manufacturing process.

Abstract:

The optical backscatter of the 4W CW laser used to produce a mesospheric sodium-layer laser guide star for the MPE adaptive optics system (ALFA) has been observed from a neighbouring 2.2 m telescope. The observations, taken at the Max Planck Observatory in Calar-Alto (Spain), in August 1998, had two aims: study the Na plume (altitude and profile variations) and the Rayleigh cone to achieve Rayleigh scattering measurements. In the framework of the network, 'Laser Guide Star for 8m class telescopes', a program of the European Commission, ESO, MPE and NUI, Galway are collaborating on studying the light pollution due to the MPE ALFA laser. The light pollution of the observatory is due to Rayleigh and Mie scattering, including water scattering, of the laser beam in the low atmosphere. With the increase of Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics system use, there is a need for a laser management policy. In order to optimise observing time, it is important to evaluate exactly when to stop the LGS, as the line of sight of one telescope gets near the laser beam, and as a function of other telescope observing programme. In this perspective, not only the single and multiple Rayleigh scattering by atmospheric molecules but also Mie scattering by aerosols has to be taken into account. Modeling of these phenomena needs an experimental calibration in realistic circumstances, and precise measurements of single and multiple light scattering in the surroundings of the beam at various altitudes. We report here on the result of such experiments.