Prototype of the MICADO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector

© NOVA/Astron

The MICADO team in the NOVA group is currently testing a prototype for a cryogenic Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector. After a year of mechanical design, manufacturing and assembly, we finally started tests.

The run started with warm tests: encoder performance verification, optimizing motor control, wobble- and runout- test. This week the cryostat is cooled down to 80 Kelvin (which takes 2 days!), during which temperatures are monitored and heaters are controlled with a PID loop. Cold tests are planned for end of the week.

The picture shows the prototype mounted on a temperature-regulating plateau, which is placed on the cryostat base plate.

A lot of people contribute to this project, but most of the design, manufacturing, assembly and testing is done by Gert Musters, Niels Tromp, Eddy Elswijk, Menno de Haan, Menno Schuil, Peter Kunst, Joost van den Born and Annemieke Janssen.