Invited Paper IPF-SuA3
Instrumentation for Large Telescopes
Sunday, October 19, 2008, 3:40 pm, Room 312
| Session: |
Astronomical Imaging |
| Presenter: |
D. Fabricant, Harvard-Smithsonian |
| Correspondent: |
email address not available |
In the past 25 years, the application of new technologies has transformed instrumentation for large, ground-based telescopes. These technologies include the development of large optical and infrared array detectors, newly available large crystalline and optical glass lens materials, and high speed robotics. Harnessing these technologies requires a high level of sophistication in engineering and applied physics, including optical, thermal, structural, and control system design. I describe state-of-the-art instruments for imaging and spectroscopy now operating at large telescopes, and look forward to our plans for the next generation of extremely large telescopes.