Cryoscope Pathfinder: testing a new approach to low background, diffraction limited, NIR imaging with exceptionally large field of view

Roger M. Smith; Karim Agabi; Michael C. B. Ashley; Robert Bertz; Lauren Fahey; Jason Fucik; Timothee Greffe; Tristan Guillot; David Hale; Mansi Kasliwal; Rishi Pahuja; Tony Travouillon; Antonio de Ugarte Postigo; Robert Weber; Ray Zarzaca; Jake Zimmer

doi:10.1117/12.3021055

28 August 2024 Cryoscope Pathfinder: testing a new approach to low background, diffraction limited, NIR imaging with exceptionally large field of view

Roger M. Smith, Karim Agabi, Michael C. B. Ashley, Robert Bertz, Lauren Fahey, Jason Fucik, Timothee Greffe, Tristan Guillot, David Hale, Mansi Kasliwal, Rishi Pahuja, Tony Travouillon, Antonio de Ugarte Postigo, Robert Weber, Ray Zarzaca, Jake Zimmer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 13094, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes X; 1309437 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3021055
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2024, Yokohama, Japan

Conference Poster

Abstract

Cryoscope will be a diffraction limited 1.2m telescope with 50 deg2 field of view contributing less thermal background than the dark K band sky at the Concordia Base in Antarctica. Cryoscope Pathfinder is 26cm version which has been built and is soon to be deployed at Dome C to retire technical risks. This paper reviews key design choices that make the substantial increase in field of view and reduction in thermal background possible. We address the technical challenges associated with the new approach and with operation over the > 100 C temperature difference between laboratory and winter at Dome C. The athermal window support and bonding are described. The baffling and thermal models are presented along with strategies for preventing condensation on the large vacuum window which radiates significant heat into the cryogenically cooled telescope. We conclude with a vision for a modular prefabricated tower to raise the telescope above the 25-30 m inversion layer, and an approach to image stabilization, so that diffraction limited imaging can be achieved over the full field of view.

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Roger M. Smith, Karim Agabi, Michael C. B. Ashley, Robert Bertz, Lauren Fahey, Jason Fucik, Timothee Greffe, Tristan Guillot, David Hale, Mansi Kasliwal, Rishi Pahuja, Tony Travouillon, Antonio de Ugarte Postigo, Robert Weber, Ray Zarzaca, and Jake Zimmer "Cryoscope Pathfinder: testing a new approach to low background, diffraction limited, NIR imaging with exceptionally large field of view", Proc. SPIE 13094, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes X, 1309437 (28 August 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3021055

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