The visible tunable filtergraph for the ATST

T. J. Kentischer; W. Schmidt; O. von der Lühe; M. Sigwarth; A. Bell; C. Halbgewachs; A. Fischer

doi:10.1117/12.926789

24 September 2012 The visible tunable filtergraph for the ATST

T. J. Kentischer, W. Schmidt, O. von der Lühe, M. Sigwarth, A. Bell, C. Halbgewachs, A. Fischer

Proceedings Volume 8446, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV; 844677 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926789
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The Kiepenheuer-Institut will develop for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) a narrowband tunable filter system (Visible Tunable Filter, VTF) for imaging spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry based on large-format Fabry Perot interferometers. A major challenge for the realization of this instrument is the development of large-format Fabry-Perots with a free aperture of about 250 mm. The instrument will operate in the spectral range between 500 and 900 nm with access to a host of magnetically sensitive lines. The instrument is designed to match the diffraction limit of the 4m-aperture ATST and will be able to observe processes on the sun at spatial scales of 35 km. Its multi-line capability, together with a field of view of one arc minute, and the ability to measure polarization states of the incoming light allow to probe different layers of the solar atmosphere within a couple of seconds. The instrument is capable to vary the spectral sampling, the integration time, and the temporal cadence over a wide range without changing or compromising the opto-mechanical setup. This versatility gives unique possibilities to apply different measurement schemes to a variety of science questions. The ATST is a fully funded US project, with the VTF as the only non-US contribution, and is ready to start construction at the Haleakala summit. The VTF is foreseen as one of the ATST’s firstlight instruments and should become operational in 2018.

Citation Download Citation

T. J. Kentischer, W. Schmidt, O. von der Lühe, M. Sigwarth, A. Bell, C. Halbgewachs, and A. Fischer "The visible tunable filtergraph for the ATST", Proc. SPIE 8446, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV, 844677 (24 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926789

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