ULTRACAM - UKATC Meeting 29/02/2000

Attendees:-

Alan Bridger (Head of Software)

Tully Peacock (Opto Mechanical Design)

David Atkinson (Detectors/Electronics)

Derek Ives (Project Management/Detectors)

Software Discussion

Outlined requirements for software input:-

Time Stamping required

2 Mbytes/s sustained data rate - (should have a goal of 5 Mbyte/s as this is the maximum that the SDSU controller is capable of)

Command line interface only required

Image files to be stored in FITs format

Required to have an image display if possible which could work like the NAOMI QI server which grabs an image and displays it at approx. 1 Hz.

Need to detail up these requirements after discussion with Vik and Tom.

Alan also agreed that we should revisit the PCI implementation to see if feasible in terms of data throughput rates etc. especially if used with SOLARIS

DJI to check if SDSU PCI board can be mounted in a PC - could then use LINUX etc (checked with SDSU - LINUX driver is available)

Optical Discussion

Tully outlined that he had 2 possible designs. To look at these in slightly more detail with guesstimate costings etc

Very worried about money available for the optics in the camera - difficult to design to fit requirements of Cassegrain and Nasymth focus positions - need to discuss this further with ULTRACAM people.

At ULTRACAM meeting need to firm up optical requirements. (plate scale, filter bands etc.) before we can proceed.

Mechanical Discussion

University of Sheffield to do mechanical design and construction. Obviously interaction between UKATC and Sheffield over mounting of detectors and the optical elements.

Cold mounting of the CCDs whether using an LN2 can or Peltier head still required from ATC. Still to be determined depending on final decision over readout rates and dark current requirements.

Electronics

Do a search to check that no other CCD types are out there which are more suitable.

Detail dark current rates against exposure time and temperature for EEV47-20.

Proposed Agenda for meeting 10/03/2000

UKATC Participation

• Define expected role and deliverables of UKATC

• Define project plan

Finance

• Determine breakdown of budget and show expected allocation to UKATC

Software

(Alan Bridger will attend for this session)

• Define requirements of complete system

• Define work package to be carried out at ATC

• Define image storage requirements and headers

• Determine if LINUX/PC system is possible

Electronics

• Finalise CCD type

• Firm up readout/noise/dark current requirements - used to determine detector cooling requirements

• From cooling specifications then determine camera type (eg LN2 etc) - determine camera mounting requirements on Ultracam.

Optics

• Define Optical Requirements

• Define UKATC role in the design/purchase of Optics for Ultracam.

Mechanical

• Define Mechanical requirements - determined by telescope focus position, camera design, optical layout etc.

• Determine UKATC role in mechanical engineering side

Other

• Draw up project plan

• financial agreement - when payments to be made etc.