Topic/Presenter: Optics / C. Stewart/M. Vincent

Question/Comment: 

Can we get just a very preliminary design to see if one could change
the pixel scale (e.g.  to 0.15 arcsec/pixel) by just replacing camera
optic. This, if we found in 5 years that we could routinely get 0.3-0.4
arcsec imagining with tip-tilt. Not a major issue, but would be
interesting if a rough design looked feasible


Submitted by: Jon Holtzman


NIC-FPS Response:

We have briefly discussed upgrade options. A preliminary optical design
for a 2K x 2 K detector with ~0.14" pixels exists, i.e. a 1.9 time
increase in effective focal length. This combination will increase the
field of view, at the cost of slight (<10%) vignetting in the corners.
Based on this design, we have provided room within NIC-FPS for the
upgrade.

The limiting factor in exchanging lenses is filter wheel #3 to FPA
distance. If the longer focal length camera requires an extention to
the optical bench, this could be added. The LN2 reservoir is being
design to accomodate an extension.

Since the optical bench is just a flat surface, the instrument can
easily accommodate any number upgrades.

Note that the change from 0.28 arcsec/pixel to 0.27 arcsec/pixel that
resulted from selecting the Hawaii 1 RG detector helps improve
sampling.


Status: Closed.