Conference proceeding
Optical alignment of contamination-sensitive far-ultraviolet spectrographs for Aspera SmallSat mission
Vol.13093, pp.130930A-130930A-20
08/21/2024
DOI: 10.1117/12.3020822
Abstract
Aspera is a NASA Astrophysics Pioneers SmallSat mission designed to study diffuse Ovi emission from the warm-hot phase gas in the halos of nearby galaxies. Its payload consists of two identical Rowland Circle-type long-slit spectrographs, sharing a single MicroChannel plate detector. Each spectrograph channel consists of an off-axis parabola primary mirror and a toroidal diffraction grating optimized for the 1013-1057 Å bandpass. Despite the simple configuration, the optical alignment/integration process for Aspera is challenging due to tight optical alignment tolerances, driven by the compact form factor, and the contamination sensitivity of the Far-Ultraviolet optics and detectors. In this paper, we discuss implementing a novel multi-phase approach to meet these requirements using state-of-the-art optical metrology tools. For coarsely positioning the optics we use a blue-laser 3D scanner while the fine alignment is done with a Zygo interferometer and a custom computer-generated hologram. The detector focus requires iterative in-vacuum alignment using a Vacuum UV collimator. The alignment is done in a controlled cleanroom facility at the University of Arizona.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Optical alignment of contamination-sensitive far-ultraviolet spectrographs for Aspera SmallSat mission
- Creators
- Aafaque R. Khan - University of ArizonaErika Hamden - University of ArizonaHaeun Chung - University of ArizonaHeejoo Choi - Optical SciencesDaewook Kim - University of ArizonaNicole Melso - University of ArizonaKeri Hoadley - University of IowaCarlos J. Vargas - University of ArizonaDaniel Truong - University of ArizonaElijah Garcia - University of ArizonaBill Verts - University of ArizonaFernando Coronado - University of ArizonaJamison Noenickx - University of ArizonaJason Corliss - University of ArizonaHannah Tanquary - University of ArizonaTom McMahon - University of ArizonaDave Hamara - University of ArizonaSimran Agarwal - University of ArizonaRamona Augustin - Space Telescope Science InstitutePeter Behroozi - University of ArizonaHarrison Bradley - University of ArizonaTrenton Brendel - University of ArizonaJoe Burchett - New Mexico State UniversityJasmine Martinez Castillo - University of ArizonaJacob Chambers - University of ArizonaLauren Corlies - Adler PlanetariumGreyson Davis - University of IowaRalf-Jürgen Dettmar - Ruhr University BochumEwan Douglas - University of ArizonaGiulia Ghidoli - University of ArizonaAlfred Goodwin - University of ArizonaWalter Harris - University of ArizonaCarl Hergenrother - University of ArizonaJ. Christopher Howk - University of ArizonaMiriam Keppler - University of ArizonaNazende Ipek Kerkeser - University of ArizonaJohn N. Kidd - University of ArizonaJessica S. Li - University of ArizonaGabe Noriega - University of ArizonaSooseong Park - University of ArizonaRyan Pecha - University of ArizonaCork Sauve - University of ArizonaDavid Schiminovich - Columbia UniversitySanford Selznic - University of ArizonaOswald Siegmund - Sensor Sciences, LLC (United States)Rebecca Su - University of ArizonaSumedha Uppnor - University of ArizonaJacob Vider - University of ArizonaEllie Wolcott - University of ArizonaNaomi Yescas - University of ArizonaDennis Zaritsky - University of Arizona
- Contributors
- Jan-Willem A. den Herder (Editor) - SRON Netherlands Institute for Space ResearchShouleh Nikzad (Editor) - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryKazuhiro Nakazawa (Editor) - Nagoya University
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Publication Details
- Vol.13093, pp.130930A-130930A-20
- Publisher
- SPIE
- DOI
- 10.1117/12.3020822
- ISSN
- 0277-786X
- eISSN
- 1996-756X
- Grant note
- NASA Astrophysics Pioneers Program, Aspera Revealing the Diffuse Universe: 80NSSC22M0081 NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) Grant: 80NSSC21K2050 NASA Astrophysics Division Program OfficeUniversity of Arizona Space Institute (UASI)Zygo CorporationSteward ObservatoryLunar Planetary LaboratoryArizona Optical Metrology LLC (AOM)
This research is supported by the NASA Astrophysics Pioneers Program, Aspera Revealing the Diffuse Universe (80NSSC22M0081). The authors would also like to acknowledge partial funding support from the NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) Grant (80NSSC21K2050). Team Aspera would like to acknowledge the support from the NASA Astrophysics Division Program Office, the University of Arizona Space Institute (UASI), the Steward Observatory, the Lunar Planetary Laboratory, Zygo Corporation, and Arizona Optical Metrology LLC (AOM). We would also like to thank Dr. Jared Males, Dr. Laird Close, and their research group at Steward Observatory for sharing their valuable resources.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/21/2024
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984721138702771
Metrics
1 Record Views