The CHARA Array Wiki

User Tools

Site Tools

Trace:
chara:new_operating_procedures

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision 		Previous revision
chara:new_operating_procedures [2025/03/24 04:15]
bflores 		chara:new_operating_procedures [2025/04/26 16:28] (current)
bflores [Alignment Sequence for Visible Combiners: SPICA and PAVO]
Line 1: Line 1:
 ====== New Operating Procedures ====== ====== New Operating Procedures ======
  
-Last updated 03/24/2025+Last updated 04/26/2025
  
 Any major updates made to the wiki, please send an email to the gsu "charaengineering" email list summarizing new changes. Any major updates made to the wiki, please send an email to the gsu "charaengineering" email list summarizing new changes.
Line 69: Line 69:
 [[:chara:instruments|Software setup for specific instruments]] \\ [[:chara:instruments|Software setup for specific instruments]] \\
 [[:chara:classic_faint_object_procedures|Classic Faint Object Procedures]] [[:chara:classic_faint_object_procedures|Classic Faint Object Procedures]]
 +
  
 ===== Observing Conditions ===== ===== Observing Conditions =====
Line 559: Line 560:
       - Main tab, **[****LD DEF].**       - Main tab, **[****LD DEF].**
         - Confirm DM curent changes when loading the default. Should range between 0.64-2.28A         - Confirm DM curent changes when loading the default. Should range between 0.64-2.28A
-  - Make sure DMTILT is on +  - Make sure DMTILT is **OFF **during alignments at STOW and on sky. 
-      - Main tab, **[DMTILT]**, make sure message says "Not ignoring tilt"+      - Main tab, **[DMTILT]**, make sure message says "Ignoring tilt"
  
 Red Beacon: Red Beacon:
Line 598: Line 599:
   - Can repeat as you wait for the sky to get dark.   - Can repeat as you wait for the sky to get dark.
   - Make sure to repeat alignments (ALN BCN, ALN DIC, FOCUS, FOCUS) __before slewing__. The optics will drift as the AO board thermally cools after the domes are opened.   - Make sure to repeat alignments (ALN BCN, ALN DIC, FOCUS, FOCUS) __before slewing__. The optics will drift as the AO board thermally cools after the domes are opened.
 +
  
 ==== SPICA STS ==== ==== SPICA STS ====
Line 806: Line 808:
 For the visible combiners the red beacon and starlight will be coaligned, so you only need to use the blue starlight boxes on the telescope WFS. For the visible combiners the red beacon and starlight will be coaligned, so you only need to use the blue starlight boxes on the telescope WFS.
  
-**Obsgtk, **main tab, **[ZERO BCN]**  at the start of the night to clear any offset between the position of the beacon boxes and the starlight boxes to avoid any confustion+**Obsgtk, **main tab, **[ZERO BCN]** at the start of the night to clear any offset between the position of the beacon boxes and the starlight boxes to avoid any confustion
  
 For **SPICA**, make sure to do "**useldc **on" in ople server if you haven't done so already. For **SPICA**, make sure to do "**useldc **on" in ople server if you haven't done so already.
  
-  - Slew to star.+   - Slew to star.
   - Main tab, turn on **[M7AUTO] **to hold the blue beacon during the slew and avoid drifting. It will turn off at the end of the slew.   - Main tab, turn on **[M7AUTO] **to hold the blue beacon during the slew and avoid drifting. It will turn off at the end of the slew.
   - CD, **[Star Acquired],**  and set new ref pos with **[Opt delay]**   - CD, **[Star Acquired],**  and set new ref pos with **[Opt delay]**
       - **FOR PAVO: **Do **<font inherit/inherit;;#e74c3c;;inherit>__NOT __</font>**hit **[Star Acquired] **before aligning for PAVO, only do **[STAR ACQUIRED]**  after alignment is finished.       - **FOR PAVO: **Do **<font inherit/inherit;;#e74c3c;;inherit>__NOT __</font>**hit **[Star Acquired] **before aligning for PAVO, only do **[STAR ACQUIRED]**  after alignment is finished.
-  - Obsgtk, set EXP to 0.001 ms and GAIN to 800 +  - Obsgtk, use **[BEACON] **preset for beacon alignment. 
-      - for spica, or bright stars (should get a preset soon)+  - Make sure **[DMTILT]**  is off.
   - **[ALN BCN], **Align red beacon to the blue starlight boxes on the telescope WFS using the beacon flat.   - **[ALN BCN], **Align red beacon to the blue starlight boxes on the telescope WFS using the beacon flat.
       - Wfs tab, Use beacon buttons if needed on W1 if beacon gets out of the boxes       - Wfs tab, Use beacon buttons if needed on W1 if beacon gets out of the boxes
Line 826: Line 828:
   - **[RED OFF] **Turn off red beacon.   - **[RED OFF] **Turn off red beacon.
   - Click **[MOVE]**  button then click on star in ACQ window. This will move star into ACQ hole.   - Click **[MOVE]**  button then click on star in ACQ window. This will move star into ACQ hole.
-  - Turn off blue beacon and lock star on **[TT]**  only +  - Turn off blue beacon and lock star on **[TT].** 
-  - Move TWFS boxes (**ADJ**  popup button on obsgtk) to get **star centered and evenly illuminated on ACQ hole**. (Note: you might need to close DM AO loop during this step.)+      - Wait a few seconds to let the star fill up the wfs.
   - Lock star on telescope AO servo (**[****DM]**  button on obsgtk). Both TT and DM servos should be on now.   - Lock star on telescope AO servo (**[****DM]**  button on obsgtk). Both TT and DM servos should be on now.
 +  - <font 14px/Aptos,sans-serif;;inherit;;inherit>If needed, move TWFS boxes (use popup from **ADJ** button on obsgtk) to** get star centered and evenly illuminated on ACQ hole.**</font> - <font 14px/Aptos,sans-serif;;inherit;;inherit>(Note: you might need to close DM AO loop during this step.)</font>
   - Turn on the blue beacon   - Turn on the blue beacon
-  - Make sure **DMTilt is green**  (stays on all the time - the message from DM tilt “NOT Ignoring DM tilt…” when it is on. This may take 2 clicks to confirm this message.)+  - Make sure **DMTilt is green** 
 +      - stays off during alignments, on when locked on a star. 
 +      - the message from DM tilt “NOT Ignoring DM tilt…” when it is on. This may take 2 clicks to confirm this message.)
   - Turn on **DM AUTO**, **LABAO**.   - Turn on **DM AUTO**, **LABAO**.
   - **For PAVO: **make sure carts are in position, then hit **[STAR ACQUIRED**] once alignments are finished. Star acq. starts the camera on pavo.   - **For PAVO: **make sure carts are in position, then hit **[STAR ACQUIRED**] once alignments are finished. Star acq. starts the camera on pavo.
Line 840: Line 845:
         - use step size of about 32 if on the edge to bring to center. Directions are normal (ex. right is right)         - use step size of about 32 if on the edge to bring to center. Directions are normal (ex. right is right)
       - Use **STST **as a reference, if spots are far on ipdet display, stst is probably really off too. Use stst to bring spots close to center and it should help bring spots close to center on ipdet, then use BF/M7 to finish aligning.       - Use **STST **as a reference, if spots are far on ipdet display, stst is probably really off too. Use stst to bring spots close to center and it should help bring spots close to center on ipdet, then use BF/M7 to finish aligning.
 +        - use the printed azimuth wheel to get directions of the buttons for SPICA.
       - let SPICA team know, they may or may not want you to turn on FTT/SERVO.       - let SPICA team know, they may or may not want you to turn on FTT/SERVO.
       - Once aligned, on STST GUI, press **[CenBox]**  to mark new reference position to monitor any drift.       - Once aligned, on STST GUI, press **[CenBox]**  to mark new reference position to monitor any drift.
Line 852: Line 858:
   - At times, Mircx will have such poor flux that a beacon flat correction to align to the STST reference position will be needed. This will occur on **E1 pop 4 ****and 5**  and **S1 pop 5**  due to their extreme distances from the telescope to the lab.   - At times, Mircx will have such poor flux that a beacon flat correction to align to the STST reference position will be needed. This will occur on **E1 pop 4 ****and 5**  and **S1 pop 5**  due to their extreme distances from the telescope to the lab.
       - Follow the SPICA team guidance in making this correction to improve the flux to keep Mircx usable as a fringe tracker with those baselines.       - Follow the SPICA team guidance in making this correction to improve the flux to keep Mircx usable as a fringe tracker with those baselines.
 +
  
 ==== Alignment Sequence for IR Combiners: MIRC-X/MYSTIC, CLASSIC/CLIMB, SILMARIL ==== ==== Alignment Sequence for IR Combiners: MIRC-X/MYSTIC, CLASSIC/CLIMB, SILMARIL ====
  
-The path of the IR light will be different from the visible light because of dispersion in the AO dichroic and atmospheric refraction. To compensate for this offset, we have **two sets of boxes**  on the telescope WFS.+The path of the IR light will be different from the visible light because of dispersion in the AO dichroic and atmospheric refraction. To compensate for this offset, we have **two sets of boxes** on the telescope WFS.
  
-The **__blue boxes__  are for starlight**  and the **__green boxes__  are for aligning the red beacon**. The offset between these sets of boxes will change depending on the azimuth and elevation of the target.+The **__blue boxes__ are for starlight** and the **__green boxes__ are for aligning the red beacon**. The offset between these sets of boxes will change depending on the azimuth and elevation of the target.
  
 The green beacon boxes help keep track of the offset red beacon motion. These are defined as an offset to the starlight position, so if you move the starlight boxes, the beacon boxes will also move. If you move the beacon boxes only they will move. The green beacon boxes help keep track of the offset red beacon motion. These are defined as an offset to the starlight position, so if you move the starlight boxes, the beacon boxes will also move. If you move the beacon boxes only they will move.
Line 865: Line 872:
 Faint stars (H > 5 mag) will not be easily visible in STST. Therefore, before slewing to the first star of the night or when slewing to a different region of the sky, slew to to a nearby bright IR star to align the beacon flat and set the beacon box offset on the TWFS. Then slew to faint star, keeping the red beacon at the same fixed position. Faint stars (H > 5 mag) will not be easily visible in STST. Therefore, before slewing to the first star of the night or when slewing to a different region of the sky, slew to to a nearby bright IR star to align the beacon flat and set the beacon box offset on the TWFS. Then slew to faint star, keeping the red beacon at the same fixed position.
  
-**NOTE:**  The STST centroiding/servo'ing now works for longer exposure times. If you change exposure time, you need to: stop the camera, config the camera, restart the camera, and retake backgrounds.+**NOTE:** The STST centroiding/servo'ing now works for longer exposure times. If you change exposure time, you need to: stop the camera, config the camera, restart the camera, and retake backgrounds.
  
 For **H=6 mag**, try changing coadds to 5 or 10 for 1 sec integration. For **H=6 mag**, try changing coadds to 5 or 10 for 1 sec integration.
  
-For **H=8 mag,**  centroiding has been shown to work using 50 sec exposure (1 coadd).+For **H=8 mag,** centroiding has been shown to work using 50 sec exposure (1 coadd).
  
 *Please update here* if you determine settings that work good for the using the auto STST alignments at different magnitudes. *Please update here* if you determine settings that work good for the using the auto STST alignments at different magnitudes.
  
 **Aligning the scopes before STST:** **Aligning the scopes before STST:**
-  - On shutters GUI, make sure **[STST]**  is in.+ 
 +   - On shutters GUI, make sure **[STST]**  is in.
   - Slew to a star of Hmag 5 or brighter (or adjust exposure time/coadds on STST as needed to see fainter stars).   - Slew to a star of Hmag 5 or brighter (or adjust exposure time/coadds on STST as needed to see fainter stars).
       - The Find IRC function on CD can do this quickly.       - The Find IRC function on CD can do this quickly.
         - Enter the target on a empty line, press **[HD]**  once (or appropriate designation), and **[Find IRC] **         - Enter the target on a empty line, press **[HD]**  once (or appropriate designation), and **[Find IRC] **
-          - will automatically give you a bright star.+          - will automatically give you a bright star nearby.
   - Close IR shutters as needed to avoid saturating the combiners.   - Close IR shutters as needed to avoid saturating the combiners.
   - **[M7AUTO]**  can help keep the blue beacon aligned during the slew.   - **[M7AUTO]**  can help keep the blue beacon aligned during the slew.
 +  - Obsgtk, use **[BEACON] **preset for beacon alignment.
 +  - Make sure **[DMTILT] **is off while aligning.
   - On the first slew only,   - On the first slew only,
       - **[ALN BCN], **align red beacon to the __blue star boxes __on the telescope WFS using the beacon flat.       - **[ALN BCN], **align red beacon to the __blue star boxes __on the telescope WFS using the beacon flat.
Line 895: Line 905:
   - Click **[MOVE]**  button then click on star in ACQ window. This will move star into ACQ hole.   - Click **[MOVE]**  button then click on star in ACQ window. This will move star into ACQ hole.
   - Turn off blue beacon and lock star on **[TT]**  only.   - Turn off blue beacon and lock star on **[TT]**  only.
-  - Move TWFS boxes (use popup from **ADJ**  button on obsgtk) to** get star centered and evenly illuminated on ACQ hole.** 
-      - (Note: you might need to close DM AO loop during this step.) 
   - Lock star on telescope AO servo (**DM**  button on obsgtk). Both TT and DM servos should be on.   - Lock star on telescope AO servo (**DM**  button on obsgtk). Both TT and DM servos should be on.
 +  - If needed, move TWFS boxes (use popup from **ADJ**  button on obsgtk) to** get star centered and evenly illuminated on ACQ hole.**
 +      - (Note: you might need to close DM AO loop during this step.)
   - Turn on the blue beacon.   - Turn on the blue beacon.
-  - Make sure **DMTilt is green**  (stays on all the time - the message from DM tilt “NOT Ignoring DM tilt…” when it is on. This may take 2 clicks to confirm this message.)+  - Turn on DMTilt (will turn green). 
 +      - stays off during slews 
 +      - the message from DM tilt will say “NOT Ignoring DM tilt…” when it is on. This may take 2 clicks to confirm this message.
   - Turn on **DM AUTO**, **LABAO servo**.   - Turn on **DM AUTO**, **LABAO servo**.
   - If the coma and astigmatism terms are high on the aberration plots, create a new sky flat   - If the coma and astigmatism terms are high on the aberration plots, create a new sky flat
Line 905: Line 917:
       - **If the signal is good on the tel WFS, it is a good idea to make a new sky flat on every star.**       - **If the signal is good on the tel WFS, it is a good idea to make a new sky flat on every star.**
 **Aligning STST:** **Aligning STST:**
 +
   - With the star locked, move the beacon to align the starlight on STST.   - With the star locked, move the beacon to align the starlight on STST.
   - On STST GUI, use either Full or Crop view.   - On STST GUI, use either Full or Crop view.
Line 912: Line 925:
       - If the star is outside of the STST reference box,       - If the star is outside of the STST reference box,
         - Try increasing the size of the STST reference boxes or move the beacon manually using the WFS tab.         - Try increasing the size of the STST reference boxes or move the beacon manually using the WFS tab.
-          - Use the rotation matrix wheel printout on the desk to know which way to move.+          - Use the azimuth rotation matrix wheel printout on the desk to know which way to move for IR.
             - point arrow to the objects azimuth.             - point arrow to the objects azimuth.
             - the direction on the printout corresponds to the direction you want to move on stst.             - the direction on the printout corresponds to the direction you want to move on stst.
Line 935: Line 948:
       - MOVE the star to center on ACQ       - MOVE the star to center on ACQ
       - Turn on **TT**  and **DM**  servo for TWFS.       - Turn on **TT**  and **DM**  servo for TWFS.
-      - Turn on **DM AUTO**  (**DM Tilt**  should already be on) and **LABAO**  servo.+      - Turn on **DM AUTO, DMTILT, **and **LABAO**  servo.
   - **If this is an STST alignment star only**   - **If this is an STST alignment star only**
       - slew to the first target and align as needed there, which shouldn't be much or at all.       - slew to the first target and align as needed there, which shouldn't be much or at all.
Line 946: Line 959:
  
 For programs with bright IR stars, skip align beacon, but do the M7 and labao focus alignments. Then lock the star on the blue boxes and use the STST to fine tune any misalignment of the beacon flat. Check the beacon focus on the twfs occasionally to make sure it stays near zero, every 2-3 stars. For programs with bright IR stars, skip align beacon, but do the M7 and labao focus alignments. Then lock the star on the blue boxes and use the STST to fine tune any misalignment of the beacon flat. Check the beacon focus on the twfs occasionally to make sure it stays near zero, every 2-3 stars.
 +
  
 ==== Trouble Shooting - AO Performance ==== ==== Trouble Shooting - AO Performance ====
chara/new_operating_procedures.1742804114.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025/03/24 04:15 by bflores

Page Tools

Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki