The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) calibration system

D. A. H. Buckley; J. Brink; N. S. Loaring; A. Swat; H. L. Worters

doi:10.1117/12.790385

9 July 2008 The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) calibration system

D. A. H. Buckley, J. Brink, N. S. Loaring, A. Swat, H. L. Worters

Proceedings Volume 7014, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy II; 70146H (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.790385
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

This paper presents details of the instrument calibration system employed on the SALT. It is designed to inject light into the Spherical Aberration Corrector at about the position of the primary mirror caustic, thereby simulating the same degree of vignetting as experienced by celestial objects. A light-shaping diffuser screen, coupled with Fresnel lenses, modifies the beam to increase efficiency and attempt to illuminate the detectors in the same manner as a uniform sky. Light is conveyed by means of liquid light guides from either QTH flat field lamps or a choice of hollow cathode (CuAr, ThAr) and penray (Ar, Hg, Xe, Ne) lamps, used for wavelength calibration. Changing entrance pupil effects are accounted for by employing a moving exit pupil baffle, which can simulate the pupil geometry of a specific track.

Citation Download Citation

D. A. H. Buckley, J. Brink, N. S. Loaring, A. Swat, and H. L. Worters "The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) calibration system", Proc. SPIE 7014, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy II, 70146H (9 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.790385

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