Research Research Projects The Pyxis Space Interferometer Prototype In this project, you will lead development of a key sub system (optical, mechanical, computational) to enable novel ultra-high resolution, visible light instrument Pyxis: a prototype for an astrophysical space interferometer. school Student intakeThis project is open for Bachelor, Honours and PhD students. label Research theme Research themes Instrumentation Stellar and planetary astronomy Content navigation toc About Image The Pyxis project aims to develop a 2-telscope ground based interferometer where instead of fixed telescopes and a moving delay line (e.g. CHARA and VLTI), the telescopes themselves move. This is the same configuration that is needed for a space interfeometer, but it has never been prototyped on the ground before. Most of the technologies needed for this are readily available today, including accurate and affordable MEMS accelerometers, robotic components and fiber-optic beam combination. The subsystems you could be part of or lead include: Coarse 6-axis mechanical control, i.e. the robotics of the system. Coarse metrology, i.e. dead reckononing cameras that look at flashing LEDs to determine the position of all elements to within a ~cm range. Fine metrology using interfeometric techniques. Tip/tilt adaptive optics and active pupil alignment (i.e. a fast control system). The astrophysical beam combiner and polarimetric spectrograph. Most sub-projects will involve a significant amount of laboratory work, some simulation work. As the project develops, testing and characterising the instrument in the evenings at Mt Stromlo Observatory will be critical. Members Supervisor Professor Michael Ireland Associate Director Science Education Associate Professor Tony Travouillon Instrument scientistAssociate Dean, College of Science