A -- PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF SOURCE SIMULATOR ASSEMBLY FOR ADAPTIVE OPTICS SYSTEM

Notice Date

November 13, 2000

Contracting Office

Gemini 8-M Telescopes Project, Aura, 950 N. Cherry Ave, PO Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85719

ZIP Code

85719

Solicitation Number

N201523

Response Due

November 17, 2000

Point of Contact

Andrew Flach, Gemini Contracts Manager, 520-318-8537

E-Mail Address

Click here to email the Gemini Contracts Manager (aflach@gemini.edu)

Description

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA), acting as the operator of the Gemini Observatory, is seeking a firm or individual to design a source simulator assembly and a diagnostic wave front sensor that will be used as components of the Gemini-South Adaptive Optics (GSAO) system. The source simulator will consist of 5 simulated laser sources (0.589 microns) and 4 or more simulated natural guide star sources (0.7-1.2 microns) arranged in two 7.5 cm diameter fields separated by approximately 30 cm. The two sets of sources must be usable simultaneously. The diameter of the laser sources should be approximately 50 microns, and the diameter for the natural guide star sources should be smaller than 10 microns. The conceptual design for the diagnostic wave front sensor is a 32 by 32 subaperture Shack-Hartmann sensor with a large linear dynamic range operating at 0.85-1.00 microns. The sensor fore optics must accommodate a 6 cm diameter, converging f/34 beam, and the sensor package must be moveable to observe each of the simulated natural stars. Further information is available upon request. The selected contractor will provide documented preliminary designs for these components by the end of March, 2001. Commercially available equipment should be incorporated in the designs where appropriate. AURA views this study work as part of the overall preliminary design effort for the GSAO system. The level of effort for this study is expected to be a maximum of 1 person-month. Persons or firms interested in being considered for this work should fax their CV, hourly rates, and examples of work they have done that is closely related to this work, to 520-318-8590 by no later than Friday 17 November, 2000. Faxes should reference Announcement No. N201523, and be addressed to the Gemini Contracts Manager. The Gemini Observatory is an international astronomical observatory which operates two 8 meter telescopes, one located on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the other on Cerro Pachon in Chile. The Gemini partners include the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Australia. The Gemini Observatory is operated by AURA under contract to the National Science Foundation.

Web Link

General information about the Gemini Observatory (http://www.gemini.edu)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001115/ASOL001.HTM (W-315 SN5064K8)