Characterization of optical elements for astronomical instruments

• Grant number: 15/06221-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2015
• End date: May 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Astronomical Instrumentation
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Lucia Mendes de Oliveira
• Grantee: Henrique Lupinari Volpato
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The goal of this project is to introduce the student in handling and measuring optical elements for astronomical instrumentation. One one hand he may measure parameters of the diffraction gratings for BTFI, a Fabry Perot instrument of the SOAR telescope, using a measuring machine at the National Laboratory of Astrophysics, or he may measure the characteristics of mirrors from the integral field unit of the instrument Frida, for the telescope Gran Tecan, using instruments available at the labs at the University of Florida. In either case the student will learn how to handle and measure optical elements for astronomical instrumentation and how to deal with the images acquired from these experiments. Besides that specific goal, other experiments will be made at the laboratory in order to train the student in various aspects concerning astronomical instrumentation.