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The advanced technology solar telescope (ATST) project: A construction update

  • Mark Warner
  • , Joseph McMullin
  • , Thomas Rimmele
  • , Tom Berger
  • National Solar Observatory
  • National Solar Observatory Sacramento Peak

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The 4m Advance Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) will be the world's leading ground-based resource for studying solar magnetism that controls the solar wind, flares, coronal mass ejections and variability in the Sun's output. The project has entered its construction phase. Major subsystems have been contracted, designs are complete, and fabrication has started. As its highest priority science driver ATST shall provide high resolution and high sensitivity observations of the dynamic solar magnetic fields throughout the solar atmosphere, including the corona at infrared wavelengths. A high order adaptive optics system delivers a corrected beam to the initial set of state-of-the-art, facility class instrumentation located in the Coudé laboratory facility. The initial set of five first generation instruments consists of imagers and spectro-polarimeters. Development and construction of a four-meter solar telescope presents many technical challenges, including thermal control of the enclosure, telescope structure and optics and wavefront control. A brief overview of the science goals and observational requirements of the ATST will be given, followed by a summary of the status of the telescope, its instrumentation, and the construction of the facility.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSolar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation V
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
EventSolar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation V - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Aug 25 2013Aug 26 2013

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8862
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceSolar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation V
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period08/25/1308/26/13

Keywords

  • ATST
  • Construction
  • Solar Telescope

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