High resolution spectropolarimeter

Aug. 11, 2003
Kenley, UK, August 11, 2003. Optical Surfaces has been selected to supply the key spectrograph optics to the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (Toulouse, France) for the NARVAL project at the Bernard Lyot telescope (TBL). The NARVAL instrument will require Optical Surfaces to produce two matching off-axis parabolic mirrors from a single f 2.2 Zerodur parent of 680-mm diameter.

Kenley, UK, August 11, 2003. Optical Surfaces has been selected to supply the key spectrograph optics to the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (Toulouse, France) for the NARVAL project at the Bernard Lyot telescope (TBL). The NARVAL instrument will require Optical Surfaces to produce two matching off-axis parabolic mirrors from a single f 2.2 Zerodur parent of 680-mm diameter.

The two off-axis collimating mirrors will be finished to achieve a uniform lambda/15 rms over the whole working area to ensure the required high throughput and ultra-low dispersion. Having previously supplied similar optics for the successful FEROS and ESPaDOnS projects, Optical Surfaces were selected for their proven record in manufacturing, mounting and testing demanding high precision spectrograph optics.

The NARVAL instrument is an adaptation of the ESPaDOnS spectropolarimeter design that currently acts as a bright time instrument for general community use at the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope. The new instrument will be able to capture all polarisation components of stellar light across a complete optical spectrum (370 to 1000 nm) in a single exposure with a resolving power of about 70,000.

Combining a polarimeter and cross-dispersed echelle spectrograph, the NARVAL will provide a new opportunity for studying with unprecedented accuracy stellar magnetic fields, stellar surfaces, stellar interiors, and investigating stellar atmospheres and extrasolar planets.

For further information on high precision optics for astrophysics applications contact Optical Surfaces Ltd. at [email protected] or by telephone on +44-208-668-6126. Moe details can be found at www.optisurf.com .

Laser Focus World

Sponsored Recommendations

Next generation tunable infrared lasers

Nov. 28, 2023
Discussion of more powerful and stable quantum cascade tunable infrared lasers, applications, and test results.

What AI demands mean for data centers

Nov. 28, 2023
The 2023 Photonics-Enabled Cloud Computing Summit assembled by Optica took an aggressive approach to calling out the limitations of today’s current technologies.

SLP feature for lighting control available on cameras offering

Nov. 28, 2023
A proprietary structured light projector (SLP) feature is now available on the company’s camera series, including the ace 2, boost R, ace U, and ace L.

Chroma Customer Spotlight - Dr. David Warshaw, About his Lab

Nov. 27, 2023
David Warshaw, Professor and Chair of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Vermont (UVM), walks us through his lab. Learn about his lab’s work with the protein...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!