Paper 13100-266
Design of a precision cryogenic rotary stage for optic or mask selection for the SCALES instrument mounted to the Keck 2 Telescope
On demand | Presented live 20 June 2024
Abstract
The SCALES instrument being developed at UC Observatories is designed to take spectra of directly imaged exoplanets in the thermal infrared (1-5 microns). The ability to switch from science imaging mode to pupil imaging mode to taking spectra at specific wavelengths requires precision mechanical subsystems to enable these different modes of operation at cryogenic temperatures. In this paper we discuss the design of a rotary stage that can position different Lyot masks, as well as different high precision metal optics to enable some of the broad functionality of SCALES. We will also review some of the analysis involved with validating the design, and specifics pertaining to the design of the precision mirrors mounted to this stage.