SPINOR Overview

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SPINOR Overview

• David F. Elmore
• Hector Socas-Navarro
• High Altitude Observatory
• National Center for Atmospheric Research

November 2005
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Memorandum of Understanding

• Covers transition from Advanced Stokes
  Polarimeter (ASP) to the Spectro-Polarimeter for
  INfrared and Optical Regions (SPINOR)
• A research spectro-polarimeter will be available
  to NSO users throughout the transition and
  capabilities increase during this time
• When complete the difficult to maintain ASP
  computers and cameras will be completely replaced

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Memorandum of Understanding

• Next milestone Deployment of Port 4 control
  that includes automation of HSG grating angle
• Final milestone Completion of SPINOR control
  system
• Virtual cameras following NSO interface
  specifications
• Control system within DST control environment
• Operation from bridge
• Real-time and Stokes images on the bridge
• Data storage in real-time to SAN

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ASP?/EASP?/SPINOR?

• ASP
• All capabilities of the ASP available to users
  since 1991 are still in place
• EASP
• ASP has been enhanced with polarization optics
  that extend the wavelength range from 750nm to
  900nm with silicon imagers
• External polarimetric cameras can be synchronized
  allowing for enhanced wavelength diversity
• With approval by HAO a NIR/SWIR camera can be
  used that extends the observation range to 1600nm
• SPINOR
• Eliminates the 1980s technology computers and
  cameras of the ASP with a new control system and
  suite of cameras
• Moves control from a stand alone instrument to
  the DST

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EASP Issues

• The list
• DST observers have carefully and thoroughly
  documented significant operational issues with
  the EASP that compromise its ability to provide
  reliable science data
• All of the current issues will be eliminated with
  the completion of SPINOR
• There are eight EASP synchronization issues that,
  I think, have a common software root
• Seven issues are maintenance and DST optical
  upgrade related with two addressed at last
  observing run
• Four issues fall into the category of features
  since ASP is coded using 1980s software and the
  DST network has evolved. These will remain until
  SPINOR is complete
• Assistance from NSO will be required to resolve
  data storage scripts for EASP

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Issues cont.

• HAO plans to work with NSO before the next EASP
  observing run
• Prioritize the items in the list
• Correct items that can be corrected in the
  current system
• Further familiarize DST observers with EASP
  operations (use of external polarimetric cameras)
• About a week of after hours/cloudy time at the
  DST will be required

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