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Development in High-Density Cobra Fiber Positioners for the Subaru Telescope's Prime Focus SpectrometerThe Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) is a fiber fed multi-object spectrometer for the Subaru Telescope that will conduct a variety of targeted surveys for studies of dark energy, galaxy evolution, and galactic archaeology. The key to the instrument is a high density array of fiber positioners placed at the prime focus of the Subaru Telescope. The system, nicknamed "Cobra", will be capable of rapidly reconfiguring the array of 2394 optical fibers to the image positions of astronomical targets in the focal plane with high accuracy. The system uses 2394 individual "SCARA robot" mechanisms that are 7.7mm in diameter and use 2 piezo-electric rotary motors to individually position each of the optical fibers within its patrol region. Testing demonstrates that the Cobra positioner can be moved to within 5 micrometers of an astronomical target in 6 move iterations with a success rate of 95%. The Cobra system is a key aspect of PFS that will enable its unprecedented combination of high-multiplex factor and observing efficiency on the Subaru telescope. The requirements, design, and prototyping efforts for the fiber positioner system for the PFS are described here as are the plans for modular construction, assembly, integration, functional testing, and performance validation.
Document ID
20130000414
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Fisher, Charles D.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Braun, David F.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Kaluzny, Joel V.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Seiffert, Mic D.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Dekany, Richard G.
(Caltech Optical Observatories Pasadena, CA, United States)
Ellis, Richard S.
(Caltech Optical Observatories Pasadena, CA, United States)
Smith, Roger S.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 27, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 2012
Subject Category
Instrumentation And Photography
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes+Instrumentation
Location: Amsterdam
Country: Netherlands
Start Date: July 1, 2012
End Date: July 6, 2012
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Cobra
Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS)
piezo
fiber poistioner

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