The conference paper, available in preprint form on arXiv [Mroczkowski et al., link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.10952], shows for the first time the nearly final AtLAST antenna design, which is the result of more than two years of work by the WP2 team, taking into account the numerous inputs and feedback received by the other work packages.
This novel rocking chair approach for the structure (see figure below) allows for a compact, stable design, accommodating the unprecedented field of view of AtLAST, and may be recognizable to many in the AtLAST logo.
The proceedings paper also discusses the optics, receiver cabin, and approaches for correcting and recovering the full AtLAST field of view (to be detailed in upcoming memos by Patricio Gallardo).
In the same meeting, the Large Submillimeter Telescope (LST) team presented a paper showing their parallel progress, and emphasized our common plan to merge the AtLAST and LST efforts into a single project in the near future.
Stay tuned as the coming year will bring many highlights along with the completion of the design study.
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The WP2 - Design study
Researchers at European Southern Observatory (ESO) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), working with industrial partner OHB Digital Connect GmbH will deliver the telescope design study. The study is divided in two phases:
- first, a so-called “baseline telescope design” will be defined, after exploring a wide range of design parameters and cost vs performance tradeoffs that would allow us to meet the ambitious AtLAST science goals.
- The second stage is an engineering phase that culminates in a price proposal for construction and delivers the final “conceptual telescope design”.
The team at OHB Digital Connect
The team at OHB works on the structural design, electronical, mechanical, and control systems engineering that will meet the stringent optical and drive systems requirements of AtLAST. The OHB team is led by Matthias Reichert, and includes Martin Timpe, Aleksej Kiselev, Pierre Dubois, Daniel Bok, and Thomas Zimmerer (OHB Digital Connect telescope design division director). The team also benefits greatly from external consultation from Hans J. Kärcher, who brings five decades of experience with telescope design.
Contact information:
- Tony Mroczkowski, leader of WP2-Telescope Design
- Claudia Cicone, coordinator of the AtLAST design study project and Associate Professor at the University of Oslo
- Matthias Reichert, leader of the OHB Digital Connect team for AtLAST
- Patricio Gallardo, main contributor to the telescope optics design
For more info on AtLAST- design study visit www.atlast.uio.no
