Seeing the light

KiwiStar Optics manager Dave
Cochrane inspects polishing
work on a mirror prior to
aluminium coating.

A team of New Zealanders is about to embark on the challenging task of building an astronomical spectrograph for the Himalayan Chandra telescope.

The work will spread over three years and involve designers, engineers, fibre optic specialists and software writers combining their skills with those of KiwiStar, and working in conjunction with the IIA.

The IIA is devoted to research in astronomy, astrophysics and related physics and has the world’s highest optical infrared telescope. The Chandra telescope sits 4,500 metres above sea level in the Himalayas at the institute’s Hanle site. It is remotely controlled by satellite from Bangalore.

About 90 percent of the contract price covers the skilled labour and expertise, as much of the actual hardware is being provided from India.

A spectrograph is a crucial telescope component, analysing light emitted by stars and other objects. It splits light into a spectrum of colours and provides measurements of velocity and direction, and also enables analysis of chemical composition.

This height above sea level provides very clear air, which results in the telescopic ability to see a greater level of infrared light and gather more detailed information.

Challenges for the New Zealand team involve ensuring the accuracy of the equipment, which will be exposed to temperature extremes ranging from around minus 30º Celsius to a warm 35º Celsius.

The General Manager responsible for KiwiStar Optics, Tim Armstrong, says the job is technically challenging because of the demand for high level optical accuracy.

“The IIA is keen to move its astronomical capability to a higher level to match the discovery of new planets and learn new knowledge,” he says.

“Building such instrumentation is exciting. The lenses are nearly one metre wide, like a big camera with huge lenses – it will be beautiful and impressive,” he says. KiwiStar will be utilising IRL’s world-class measurement capabilities to ensure the lenses are aligned accurately for optical performance.

The latest contract follows KiwiStar’s success last year in winning another multi-million contract to produce precision optical components for a spectrograph on Australia’s largest telescope. There has been a long-standing collaboration between KiwiStar Optics and the Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO), a division of that country’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

Senior account manager for KiwiStar’s business development, Tom Nicolle, says the commercial success recognises more than 40 years of IRL expertise in optics and the precision in optical measurement achievable through  KiwiStar’s relationship with IRL’s Measurement Standards Laboratory (MSL^[?]).

“Others in the world might be capable of this type of work but IRL has developed a niche in the global optics market, particularly in this size of lens,” he says.

“The contract will expand that New Zealand skill base, providing commercial benefits to other industries outside of IRL. Contracts of this size are vital if we’re to maintain this level of expertise here.”

The contract also involves the design and construction of large mechanical components required to mount and hold the lenses in place. Much of this work will be completed by other New Zealand companies.

The first year of the contract involves detailed design, with the manufacture of equipment throughout year two and assembly and testing in the third and final year.

Tom Nicolle says the KiwiStar relationship with IIA was initially promoted by the University of Canterbury’s Professor of Astronomy, John Hearnshaw, through his network of international astronomers.