MOONS – multi object spectroscopy for the VLT: spectrograph performance

Abstract

This is a copy of the published version, or version of record, available on the publisher's website. This version does not track changes, errata, or withdrawals on the publisher's site.

MOONS – multi object spectroscopy for the VLT: overview and instrument integration update

“…The MOONS project is now in the final phase of the assembly and verification. Testing of the spectrograph alignment has been successfully completed for 3 of the 6 MOONS channels [9] confirming compliance of key requirements such as image quality, transmission, and resolving power. All the major sub-systems in the front-end have been assembled and the serial production of the 1000 fibres and the fibres positioners is now completed.…”

“…The alignment of all the cameras has been completed in Cambridge and three of them have been fitted and tested in side 1 of the spectrograph (see Figure 12). The alignment performed in Cambridge [10] was confirmed to be correct by the image quality tests performed during the latest instrument cooldowns [9]. The remaining cameras will be installed for the next cooldown together with all the optics of side 2.…”

“…These are briefly described in the subsequent subsections together with an update on their integration procedure. A detailed description of all MOONS components can be found in [1] and in dedicated papers for the different subsystems [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]. The MOONS RFE is mounted to the telescope and contains the focal plate and fibre positioning system used to align the optical fibres to their desired on-sky locations.…”

“…H band testing is ongoing. An updated description of the spectrograph integration and testing results can be found in [9].…”

“…Both these properties were demonstrated in GEPI before shipment to Edinburgh and have been verified in the cold instrument at the UKATC. The second assembled slit is nearly complete and will be shipped to the UKATC for installation later in the year Figure 14 shows a small section of the detector, containing imaged emission lines from a test source in the lab (see [9] for details of these and more spectrograph tests). While also illustrating a great deal about the image quality achieved in the early cooldowns, this image is primarily to show the groupings of the fibres in the slitlets.…”