Building and Testing the Spectrograph for the New Robotic Telescope

这个项目有两个主要目标，一是开发一种新型的光谱仪，对瞬态天文现象进行最有效的分类，二是使用新开发的光谱仪进行天文观测，以证明该设计的效率。该光谱仪有一个简短的设计概念，需要最终确定，然后用Zemax Optic Studio等分析工具进行验证。将在内部组装一个台架原型，并使用光束模拟器进行测试，以确认仪器的光学性能与设计相匹配。一旦性能被评估和批准，原型将被安装在LT上进行评估。尽管两架望远镜在设计上存在差异，但LT在测试目的上可以很好地替代NRT。在LT上，原型机将观察从标准校准源和临时目标获取的一组测试数据。一旦测试完成，光谱仪就完成了，准备安装到NRT上。在观测者使用光谱仪之前，将用python开发一个数据简化管道，该管道将校准仪器的数据，并检查影响数据质量的系统和随机误差的校准参数。最后一步是比较NR-SPRAT与LT-SPRAT的性能。

There are two min aims in this project, to develop a novel spectrograph optimised for the most efficient classification of transient astronomical phenomena and to use the newly developed spectrograph to carry out a programme of astronomical observations that prove the efficiency of the design. This spectrograph has a brief design concept that needs to be finalised then verified with analytical tools such as Zemax Optic Studio. A bench prototype will be assembled in-house and tested with a beam simulator to confirm the optical performance of the instrument matches the design. Once the performance has been assessed and approved the prototype will be mounted on the LT to be evaluated. Despite design differences in the two telescopes, the LT provides a good substitute to the NRT for testing purposes. On the LT the prototype will observe a test set of data taken of standard calibration sources and transient targets of opportunity. Once testing is complete the spectrograph is complete and is ready to be mounted onto the NRT. Before the spectrograph will be used by observers a data reduction pipeline will be developed in python which will calibrate the data from the instrument and examine calibration parameters for systematic and random errors affecting data quality. The final step would be a comparison to asses the performance of NR-SPRAT compared to LT-SPRAT.