Telescope control software and proto-model siderostat for the SDSS-V Local Volume Mapper

TL;DR

This paper presents the development and testing of a specialized telescope control software and a proto-model siderostat for the SDSS-V Local Volume Mapper, demonstrating high-precision field acquisition and guiding in a wide-field survey setup.

Contribution

The paper introduces a hierarchical control software for multiple telescope components and a lightweight proto-model siderostat, advancing automation and precision in wide-field astronomical surveys.

Findings

Achieved field acquisition accuracy of 0.38 arcseconds.

Achieved autoguide accuracy of 1.5 arcseconds.

Successfully tested the proto-model in real sky conditions.

Abstract

The fifth Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-V) Local Volume Mapper (LVM) is a wide-field integral field unit (IFU) survey that uses an array of four 160 mm fixed telescopes with siderostats to minimize the number of moving parts. Individual telescope observes the science field or calibration field independently and is synchronized with the science exposure. We developed the LVM Acquisition and Guiding Package (LVMAGP) optimized telescope control software program for LVM observations, which can simultaneously control four focusers, three K-mirrors, one fiber selector, four mounts (siderostats), and seven guide cameras. This software is built on a hierarchical architecture and the SDSS framework and provides three key sequences: autofocus, field acquisition, and autoguide. We designed and fabricated a proto-model siderostat to test the telescope pointing model and LVMAGP software. The mirrors of the proto-model were designed as an isogrid open-back type, which reduced the weight by 46% and enabled reaching thermal equilibrium quickly. Additionally, deflection due to bolting torque, self-gravity, and thermal deformation was simulated, and the maximum scatter of the pointing model induced by the tilt of optomechanics was predicted to be $4'.4$, which can be compensated for by the field acquisition sequence. We performed a real sky test of LVMAGP with the proto-model siderostat and obtained field acquisition and autoguide accuracies of $0''.38$ and $1''.5$, respectively. It met all requirements except for the autoguide specification, which will be resolved by more precise alignment among the hardware components at Las Campanas Observatory.