Instrumentation

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.