Jason E. Hylan

Design and fabrication of diamond-machined aspheric mirrors for ground-based near-IR astronomy

Challenges in fabrication and testing have historically limited the choice of surfaces available for the design of reflective optical instruments. Spherical and conic mirrors are common, but, for future science instruments, more degrees of freedom will be necessary to meet performance and packaging requirements. These instruments will be composed of surfaces of revolution located far off-axis with large spherical departure, and some designs will even require asymmetric surface profiles. We describe the design and diamond machining of seven aluminum mirrors: three rotationally symmetric, off-axis conic sections, one off-axis biconic, and three flat mirror designs. These mirrors are for the Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer instrument, a facility instrument for the Kitt Peak National Observatory’s Mayall Telescope (3.8 m) and a pathfinder for the future Next Generation Space Telescope multi-object spectrograph. The symmetric mirrors include convex and concave prolate and oblate ellipsoids, and range in aperture from 92 x 77 mm to 284 x 264 mm and in f-number from 0.9 to 2.4. The biconic mirror is concave and has a 94 x 76 mm aperture, (formula available in paper) and is decentered by -2 mm in x and 227 mm in y. The mirrors have an aspect ratio of approximately 6:1. The fabrication tolerances for surface error are < 63.3 nm RMS figure error and < 10 nm RMS microroughness. The mirrors are attached to the instrument bench using semi-kinematic, integral flexure mounts and optomechanically aligned to the instrument coordinate system using fiducial marks and datum surfaces. We also describe in-process profilometry and optical testing.

Comparison of Stress Relief Procedures for Cryogenic Aluminum Mirrors

The Infrared Multi-Object Spectrograph is a facility instrument for the KPNO Mayall Telescope. IRMOS is a low- to mid-resolution, near-IR (0.8-2.5 um) spectrograph that produces simultaneous spectra of ~100 objects in its 2.8 × 2.0 arcmin field of view. The instrument operating temperature is ~80 K and the design is athermal. The bench and mirrors are machined from Al 6061-T651. In spite of its baseline mechanical stress relief, Al 6061-T651 harbors residual stress, which, unless relieved during fabrication, may distort mirror figure to unacceptable levels at the operating temperature (~80 K). Other cryogenic, astronomy instruments using Al mirrors have employed a variety of heat treatment formulae, with mixed results. We present the results of a test program designed to empirically determine the best stress relief procedure for the IRMOS mirrors. Identical test mirrors are processed with six different stress relief formulae from the literature and institutional heritage. After figuring via diamond turning, the mirrors are tested for figure error at room temperature and at ~80 K for three thermal cycles. The heat treatment procedure for the mirrors that yielded the least and most repeatable change in figure error is applied to the IRMOS mirror blanks. We correlate the results of our optical testing with heat treatment and metallographic data.

The Large UV/Optical/Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR): Decadal Mission Concept Design Update

In preparation for the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey, NASA has commissioned the study of four large mission concepts, including the Large Ultraviolet / Optical / Infrared (LUVOIR) Surveyor. The LUVOIR Science and Technology Definition Team (STDT) has identified a broad range of science objectives including the direct imaging and spectral characterization of habitable exoplanets around sun-like stars, the study of galaxy formation and evolution, the epoch of reionization, star and planet formation, and the remote sensing of Solar System bodies. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is providing the design and engineering support to develop executable and feasible mission concepts that are capable of the identified science objectives. We present an update on the first of two architectures being studied: a 15- meter-diameter segmented-aperture telescope with a suite of serviceable instruments operating over a range of wavelengths between 100 nm to 2.5 μm. Four instruments are being developed for this architecture: an optical / near-infrared coronagraph capable of 10-10 contrast at inner working angles as small as 2 λ/D; the LUVOIR UV Multi-object Spectrograph (LUMOS), which will provide low- and medium-resolution UV (100 – 400 nm) multi-object imaging spectroscopy in addition to far-UV imaging; the High Definition Imager (HDI), a high-resolution wide-field-of-view NUV-Optical-IR imager; and a UV spectro-polarimeter being contributed by Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES). A fifth instrument, a multi-resolution optical-NIR spectrograph, is planned as part of a second architecture to be studied in late 2017.

Alignment and performance of the Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer

The Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer (IRMOS) is a principle investigator class instrument for the Kitt Peak National Observatory 4 and 2.1 m telescopes. IRMOS is a near-IR (0.8 - 2.5 μm) spectrometer with low- to mid-resolving power (R = 300 - 3000). IRMOS produces simultaneous spectra of ~100 objects in its 2.8 - 2.0 arc-min field of view (4 m telescope) using a commercial Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) micro-mirror array (MMA) from Texas Instruments. The IRMOS optical design consists of two imaging subsystems. The focal reducer images the focal plane of the telescope onto the MMA field stop, and the spectrograph images the MMA onto the detector. We describe ambient breadboard subsystem alignment and imaging performance of each stage independently, and ambient imaging performance of the fully assembled instrument. Interferometric measurements of subsystem wavefront error serve as a qualitative alignment guide, and are accomplished using a commercial, modified Twyman-Green laser unequal path interferometer. Image testing provides verification of the optomechanical alignment method and a measurement of near-angle scattered light due to mirror small-scale surface error. Image testing is performed at multiple field points. A mercury-argon pencil lamp provides a spectral line at 546.1 nm, a blackbody source provides a line at 1550 nm, and a CCD camera and IR camera are used as detectors. We use commercial optical modeling software to predict the point-spread function and its effect on instrument slit transmission and resolution. Our breadboard and instrument level test results validate this prediction. We conclude with an instrument performance prediction for cryogenic operation and first light in late 2003.

Optical Alignment and Test of the James Webb Space Telescope Integrated Science Instrument Module

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a 6.6 m diameter, segmented, deployable telescope for cryogenic IR space astronomy (~40 K). The JWST observatory architecture includes the optical telescope element (OTE) and the integrated science instrument module (ISIM) element that contains four science instruments (SI) including a guider. The SIs and Guider are mounted to a composite metering structure with outer dimensions of 2.1 times 2.2 times 1.9 m. The SI and guider units are integrated to the ISIM structure and optically tested at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center as an instrument suite using an OTE SIMulator (OSIM). OSIM is a high-fidelity, cryogenic JWST telescope simulator that features a 1.5 m diameter powered mirror. The SIs are aligned to the structures coordinate system under ambient, clean room conditions using laser tracker and theodolite metrology. Temperature-induced mechanical SI alignment and structural changes are measured using a photogrammetric measurement system at ambient and cryogenic temperatures. OSIM is aligned to the ISIM mechanical coordinate system at the cryogenic operating temperature via internal mechanisms and feedback from alignment sensors in six degrees of freedom. SI performance, including focus, pupil shear and wavefront error, is evaluated at the operating temperature using OSIM. We describe the ambient and cryogenic optical alignment, test and verification plan for the ISIM element.

Integration, Testing and Performance of the Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer

The Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer (IRMOS) is a principle investigator-class instrument for the Kitt Peak National Observatory 2.1 m and Mayall 3.8 m telescopes. IRMOS is a near-IR (0.8-2.5 micron) spectrometer with low- to mid-resolving power (R = λ/Δλ = 300-3000). On the 3.8 m telescope, IRMOS produces simultaneous spectra of ~100 objects in its 2.8 x 2.0 arcmin field of view using a commercial micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) digital micro-mirror device (DMD) from Texas Instruments. The multi-mirror array DMD operates as a real-time programmable slit mask. The all-reflective optical design consists of two imaging subsystems. The focal reducer images the focal plane of the telescope onto the DMD field stop, and the spectrograph images the DMD onto a large-format detector. The instrument operates at ~90 K, cooled by a single electro-mechanical cryocooler. The bench and all components are made from aluminum 6061. There are three cryogenic mechanisms. We describe laboratory integration and test of IRMOS before shipment to Kitt Peak National Observatory. We give an overview of the optical alignment technique and integration of optical, mechanical, electrical and cryogenic subsystems. We compare optical test results to model predictions of point spread function size. We discuss some lessons learned and conclude with a prediction for performance on the telescope.

Verification of the James Webb Space Telescope Integrated Science Instrument Module cryogenic structural alignment requirements via photogrammetry

The alignment philosophy of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) is such that the cryogenic changes in the alignment of the science instruments (SIs) and telescope-related interfaces are captured in an alignment error budget. The SIs are aligned to the structures coordinate system under ambient, clean room conditions using laser tracker and theodolite metrology. The ISIM structure is thermally cycled and temperature-induced mechanical and structural changes are concurrently measured to ensure they are within the predicted boundaries. We report on the ISIM photogrammetry system and its role in the cryogenic verification of the ISIM structure. We describe the cryogenic metrology error budget and the analysis and testing that was performed on the ISIM mockup, a full scale aluminum model of the ISIM structure, to ensure that the system design allows the metrology goals to be met, including measurement repeatability and distortion introduced from the camera canister windows.

Imaging performance and modeling of the Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer focal reducer

The Infrared Multi-Object Spectrometer (IRMOS) is a facility instrument for the Kitt Peak National Observatory 4 and 2.1 meter telescopes. IRMOS is a near-IR (0.8 - 2.5 μm) spectrometer with low- to mid-resolving power (R = 300 - 3000). The IRMOS spectrometer produces simultaneous spectra of ~100 objects in its 2.8 x 2.0 arcmin field of view using a commercial MEMS multi-mirror array device (MMA) from Texas Instruments. The IRMOS optical design consists of two imaging subsystems. The focal reducer images the focal plane of the telescope onto the MMA field stop, and the spectrograph images the MMA onto the detector. We describe the breadboard subsystem alignment method and imaging performance of the focal reducer. This testing provides verification of the optomechanical alignment method and a measurement of near-angle scattered light due to mirror small-scale surface error. Interferometric measurements of subsystem wavefront error serve to verify alignment and are accomplished using a commercial, modified Twyman-Green laser unequal path interferometer. Image testing is then performed for the central field point. A mercury-argon pencil lamp provides the spectral line at 546.1 nm, and a CCD camera is the detector. We use the Optical Surface Analysis Code to predict the point-spread function and its effect on instrument slit transmission, and our breadboard test results validate this prediction. Our results show that scattered light from the subsystem and encircled energy is slightly worse than expected. Finally, we perform component level image testing of the MMA, and our results show that scattered light from the MMA is of the same magnitude as that of the focal reducer.

Alignment of the James Webb Space Telescope Integrated Science Instrument Module Element

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a 6.6m diameter, segmented, deployable telescope for cryogenic IR space astronomy. The JWST Observatory architecture includes the Optical Telescope Element (OTE) and the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) element which contains four science instruments (SI), including a guider. The SIs and guider are mounted to a composite metering structure with outer envelope approximate measurements of 2.2x2.2x1.7m. These SI units are integrated to the ISIM structure and optically tested at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as an instrument suite using an Optical telescope element SIMulator (OSIM). OSIM is a high-fidelity, cryogenic JWST simulator that features a ~1.5m diameter powered mirror. The SIs are aligned to the flight structure’s coordinate system under ambient, clean room conditions using opto-mechanical metrology and customized interfaces. OSIM is aligned to the ISIM mechanical coordinate system at the cryogenic operating temperature via internal mechanisms and feedback from alignment sensors and metrology in six degrees of freedom. SI performance, including focus, pupil shear, pupil roll, boresight, wavefront error, and image quality, is evaluated at the operating temperature using OSIM. This work reports on the as-run ambient assembly and ambient alignment steps for the flight ISIM, including SI interface fixtures and customization and kinematic mount adjustment. The ISIM alignment plan consists of multiple steps to meet the “absolute” alignment requirements of the SIs and OSIM to the flight coordinate system. In this paper, we focus on key aspects of absolute, optical-mechanical alignment. We discuss various metrology and alignment techniques. In addition, we summarize our approach for dealing with and the results of ground-test factors, such as gravity.

Cryogenic Thermal Distortion Performance Characterization for the JWST ISIM Structure

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) Structure is a precision optical metering structure for the JWST science instruments. Optomechanical performance requirements place stringent limits on the allowable thermal distortion of the metering structure between ambient and cryogenic operating temperature (~35 K). This paper focuses on thermal distortion testing and successful verification of performance requirements for the flight ISIM Structure. The ISIM Structure Cryoset Test was completed in Spring 2010 at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the Space Environment Simulator Chamber. During the test, the ISIM Structure was thermal cycled twice between ambient and cryogenic (~35 K) temperatures. Photogrammetry was used to measure the Structure in the ambient and cryogenic states for each cycle to assess both cooldown thermal distortion and repeatability. This paper will provide details on the post-processing of the metrology datasets completed to compare measurements with performance requirements.