Research Research themes Instrumentation toc About RSAA has a long history of research and development in astronomical instrumentation, and has constructed a number of precision instruments for our own telescopes, and others around the world. The Advanced Instrumentation Technology Centre (AITC) provides advanced facilities for the instrumentation scientists and engineers of the school, who work on projects in the areas of optics and detector science, integral-field spectroscopy, adaptive-optics technologies, instrumentation for the next generation of ground-based telescopes, and survey astronomy. The AITC is also a unique facilitiy for training instrument science, engineering, and astronomy students. Astronomical instrumentation The RSAA has considerable expertise and experience in design and development of advanced instrumentation for astronomy. The school has completed two instruments for the twin 8m telescopes of the Gemini Observatory: the Near-infrared Integral-Field Spectrometer (NIFS) and Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI), in addition to instrumentation for the facilties of MSO: such as the Dual-Beam Spectrograph (DBS), and Wide-Field Spectrograph (WiFeS) instruments for ANU 2.3m Telescope (also built largely in house), and the wide-field, 238 megapixel SkyMapper camera. The technical program has particular expertise in optical and infrared spectroscopy, integral-field spectroscopy, adaptive optics, and wide-field imaging. Adaptive optics The school has built a core of expertise in the field of adaptive optics (AO), a technology that will be essential to the success of high-resolution observations with the next generation of large ground-based telescopes. AO systems correct for the effects of turbulence in the air of the atmosphere, which causes distortion to the images produced by telescopes on the Earth. RSAA AO scientists are working with industy partners to develop the technologies and techniques required to extend AO capabilities to greater efficacy and for use with extremely-large telescopes (ELTs) such as the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). The Giant Magellan Telescope ANU is leading Australia's involvement as a member of the international consortium that will design, build, and use the Giant Magellan Telescope. This facility will have an effective mirror aperture of 24.5m and is scheduled for completion in around 2020. RSAA is building one of the first instruments that will be used with the telescope, the GMT Integral-Field Spectrograph (GMTIFS) and developing adaptive-optics solutions for the project. Our participation ensures that Australian astronomers and students will continue to have access to cutting-edge resources and provides important opportunities for work on advanced instrumentation applications and astronomical research. Space and satellite applications The AITC has been designed to be a world-class facility for developing and testing small satellites and space payloads, in addition to astronomical instrumentation. In this capacity it is fast becoming a national hub for Australia's space community, linking industy to researchers and aerospace projects around the world. The space research facilities at RSAA will include a large thermal vacuum test chamber to simulate the space environment, a vibration test facility capable of exerting acceleration forces of several tons on instruments under test, and a small satellite groundstation that was installed as part of the Antarctic Broadband project. Collaboration with industry Our scientists and engineers have a history of industry partnership that dates back to Second World War, when they worked in a successful collaboration with the US to produce specialised optics for the war effort. The school continues to foster close links with government, business and research institutions around the world. Currently, our technical team is working with industy and research partners on projects to develop a satellite system for monitoring greenhouse gases, satellite laser ranging technologies, and a new plasma thruster engine for space travel. Projects 3D printed optical translation stage Optical instrumentation prototyping could be made significantly faster and cheaper with the availability of on-demand, customisable opto-mechanical components. Read more Student intake Open for Bachelor, Honours students People Dr Jesse Cranney Dr Michael Copeland Read more 3D printed water-cooled deformable mirror for high power lasers. In this project the student will investigate the feasibility of a 3D printed deformable mirror with an embedded water-cooling system, and its expected performance under extreme heat conditions based on the selected material and actuator configuration. Read more Student intake Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students People Dr Noelia Martinez Rey Read more A Deep-Space and Lunar Optical Communication System: Optical ground station to support Artemis II The successful applicant will join the ANU team and will assist with the development of instrumentation for the optical communication team Read more Student intake Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students People Elisa Jager Associate Professor Francis Bennet Associate Professor Tony Travouillon Read more A high-altitude survey for nearby supernova This project has two components: developing the science case for the instrument, defining the mission parameters that are necessary to ensure the science goals are achieved; and, for a student so inclined, physically building the telescope and camera system. Read more Student intake Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students People Dr Bradley Tucker Dr Joice Mathew Read more Adaptive Optics for Laser Communication: iLaunch Trailblazer The successful applicant will join the ANU team and will assist with the development of instrumentation for the optical communication team Read more Student intake Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students People Elisa Jager Associate Professor Francis Bennet Associate Professor Tony Travouillon Read more Adaptive vibration cancellation in adaptive optics A student undertaking this project will review the existing methods, and assess their suitability in MAVIS, including implementation and testing of a method to actively cancel telescope vibrations with the adaptive optics control loop. Read more Student intake Open for Bachelor, Honours students People Dr Jesse Cranney Mr Julien Bernard Read more Load more Articles ANU-NAOJ ULTIMATE-Subaru project collaboration selected as example of Partners in Excellence by Go8 The ULTIMATE-Subaru project has been selected by the Group of 8 Australia to feature as the first example of successful Australia-Japan research collaborations. Read the article Launch of Optimus Satellite Congratulations to Space Machines Company, with the launch of their Optimus satellite! Read the article MAVIS Busy Week The MAVIS team had its first busy week with members of the MAVIS consortium from Australian and European teams since the start of COVID. Read the article Launch of the Space Careers Wayfinder education program What does a job in the space industry look like? The Space Careers Wayfinder program is a collaboration between the CSIRO and the Australian National University (ANU) that aims to inspire and ignite a passion in the next generation to foster the growth of the future space industry workforce. Read the article New galaxy survey to precisely measure the expanding Universe ANU will play a major role in the Taipan galaxy survey, which will for the first time measure the current expansion rate of the Universe with one per cent precision. Read the article ANU to lead new project to enhance technology for drones and small satellites To enhance Australia's defence capability by building industrial capability in sensor and on-board data processing for drones and small satellites. Read the article Load More toc