A new era for optical instrumentation in Australia

Transcription

1 A new era for optical instrumentation in Australia Michael Steel Head, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Macquarie University Interim Director, Australian Astronomical Optics-Macquarie, Macquarie University

2 Background to the AAO transition Federal government s 2017 initiative Enter a 10 year strategic partnership with ESO Split the AAO into two components AAT to be operated by ANU on behalf of 13 universities Future of the North Ryde group to be determined by DIIS through an EoI process Nature of EoI call by Optical Astronomy Reference Group, chair Prof. Peter Quinn Commonwealth advised by international expert panel Expressions of interest period in Q Key expectations A secure home for the AAO instrumentation group in Sydney Retain as much activity and staff as financially possible Build a close relationship with industry, both for revenue opportunities and partnership Support a viable future for AAO instrumentation collaboration with the AAT Outline a vision for a National Optical Instrumentation Capability 2

3 Our EoI proposal Macquarie MQAAAstro ANU AAT Operations; Stromlo U.Sydney SIfA Astrophotonics AAO program North Ryde AITC SAIL labs National Optical Instrumentation Capability 3

4 The final outcome Macquarie MQAAAstro ANU AAT Operations; Stromlo U.Sydney SIfA; SAIL AAO AAO-MQ North Ryde AAO- AITC Stromlo AAO-USydney SAIL labs National Australian Optical Astronomical Instrumentation Optics Capability AAL 4

5 Macquarie s interest in AAO instrumentation Long-standing collaborative and joint staff arrangements with AAO Connection to existing strengths in Photonics (~50 people), astronomy (~30) and astrophotonics (~8) Complementary optical strengths: Compact, high-power lasers; integrated photonics The compact RHEA spectrograph. A larger role in Australian astronomy Broader reach for astrophotonics research program Potential for vibrant nexus between AAO Instrumentation + Dept. of Physics & Astronomy + School of Engineering Integrated beam combiner 5

6 Macquarie s interest in AAO instrumentation Strong history in applied optics (dentistry, sensing, laser devel.) Connection to industry synergistic with Macquarie strengths in medicine, biomedicine, environmental management Leveraging and adding to strengths in optics commercialisation and research support OptoFab in Australian National Fabrication Facility Advanced 3D metal printing fs and ps laser processing (frequently used by AAO now) Sucessful optics spin-offs: Modular Photonics, Lighthouse Inc., BluGlass Inc. Industry partnership MSquared Lasers,Optiglobal/Jenoptika 6

7 AAO Macquarie: structure and people A distinct Department within the Faculty of Science and Engineering Led by a Director (recruiting now) with HoD status ~43 staff coming across (>80%) Stay at the Delhi Rd site for several years, then to main North Ryde campus Closely allied with Department of Physics and Astronomy/MQAAAstro School of Engineering OptoFab Laser Micromachining Solutions 7

8 AAO Macquarie: mission and opportunities The Familiar Leadership in optical/ir instrumentation, esp fibre-fed spectrographs No change in technical breadth and capabilities: systems engineering, electronics, mechanics, optics, software, data science, astronomy Ongoing efforts in pure astronomy research and data science Close links with the new AAT Build on a decade of formal links with Macquarie All current contracts novated to Macquarie and progressing unchanged A partner for project scientists across the country The New Professional opportunities of University life Access to teaching + HDR students Access to ARC and other schemes as CIs Rich professional support No more coffee club! A larger local astronomy community Investment in development of non-astronomical and industry opportunities Leverage of other Macquarie technologies: Laser sources Micro and nano-fabrication Silicon and integrated photonics Wide range of sensing research and applications Partnership in the new National Capability 8

9 The National Capability Australian Astronomical Optics Growing Australia s global presence and impact in ground-based optical/ir instrumentation Leading instrument groups are stronger together Joint instrument calls, deliveries, and reputation building Exchange of ideas, equipment, staff Cementing long-standing and active relationships Unified national agenda Preservation of AAO identity as a national brand Extensible approach Key capabilities together Wide field optics and fibres Adaptive optics and space science Instrument R&D Local astronomy science input AAL AAL commitment: support of $5M/y NCRIS $4.5M/year to AAO-Macquarie in years 1 to 4 Open allocation in years 5 to 10, subject to continuation of NCRIS program Continued close connection to AAT 9

10 Australian Astronomical Optics vision Win and build the instruments of strategic importance to Australia: ESO VLT, GMT Support the ESO partnership Guaranteed observing nights for the national astro community Discover and apply innovative approaches in astronomical instrumentation Allow technical staff to be more effective Low barriers to exchange of expertise, resources and facilities Common reporting and review Connect industry with new technologies and foster commercialisation opportunities that come from combined capabilities Relationship building for partnership in ESO and similar bids Promoting cultures of Excellence in technical performance, project management and service Career development and industry connectivity Diversity, equity and inclusion Expectation of new partners 10

11 Partner strengths in instrumentation AAO-Macquarie Existing AAO capabilities Plus Integrated spectrographs Large-scale precision spectrograph design 3D photonic pupil remappers Huntsman telephoto array Precision manufacture ns and fs laser processing Metal 3D printing Visible and mid-ir Laser design Compact lasers AAO-Stromlo Broad spectrum of engineering capabilities: software, mechanical, optics, project mgmt. Astronomical instrumentation and adaptive optics Space-testing and space-proofing equipment Large integration hall Optical materials, esp mid-ir Detector technology AAO-USydney Waveguide astrophotonics Fiber hexabundles and SAMI Photonic crystal fibres and lanterns, pupil mapping interferometry OH suppression filters Mid-infrared photonics Photonic CubeSats Commercialisation focus 11

12 Collective strengths Capabilities Fibre systems (fibre cables, fibre IFUs and image-slicers, novel geometries) Positioning systems (pick-and-place, Starbugs, Echidna, motion control systems) Spectrographs (single-mode, high res single-object, MOS, slit-masks, image-slicers) Adaptive optics (GLAO, SCAO, MCAO, MOAO, etc) Laser guide star systems (variety of laser types) Astrophotonics (hexabundles, integrated photonics, interferometry) Imagers (simple and complex cameras) Correctors (design and fabrication of large element correctors and ADCs) R&D (technology development across many areas) Detector interface and control systems Cryogenics Instrument control hardware Instrument control software Data reduction software Data science (pipelines and databases) Project management (applied to astronomy) Systems engineering (for internal projects, ESO, Gemini, etc) Facilities Mechanical workshops Metrology laboratories Electronics workshops Detector clean-rooms Instrument assembly hi-bay clean-rooms Thermal and vacuum chamber Vibration and shock test facilities Optical system laboratories Robotics laboratory Fibre laboratories Software packages 3D printing facilities

13 AAOptics - Governance Defined by a formal consortium partnership AAL is a full partner (a voice for the whole astronomy community) Expectation that new partners will join over time Development of Strategic and Annual Plans informed by the Astronomy Decadal Plan AAO Board partner reps up to 3 independent members DIIS as observer Regular review by an independent expert Science and Technical committee An Industry advisory cluster Day-to-day operations coordinated by COO and management committee 13

14 The AAO Consortium: Current Projects GMT: GMTIFS, MANIFEST, Laser tomography AST3: KISS VISTA: 4MOST UKST: TAIPAN AAT: Veloce, Hector, PRAXIS Gemini: GHOST Subaru: AO LGS, NBS

15 The AAO Consortium: Future Joint instrument projects: Lots of upcoming opportunities Skyhopper Space telescope Research and Development: Astrophotonics Detector systems AO sub-systems Infrared fibres Commercial engagement: Plans under development Spin-off companies IP licensing University input

16 The AAO Consortium: Networks

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