Speaker is Dmitry Morozov (University of Glasgow). Title is TBC.

Speaker is Peter Wizinowich (KECK). Title is TBC.

Speaker is Ellen Schallig (University of Oxford). The seminar is titled 'Braiding Glass: Building an Integral Field Unit for the WEAVE Instrument'.

WEAVE, the new spectroscopy facility on the William Herschel Telescope, had first light in 2022, and has been collecting great data since. In this talk, I will look back on the building of WEAVE, and in particular of its Large Integral Field Unit (LIFU). I will take you through some of the surprises that we encountered in manipulating fibres, and the actual effort it takes to put hardware together with the necessary precision. Finally, we will look at those first-light results from the perspective of the LIFU.

Speaker is Doug McDonald (Fraunhofer IOSB). Title is TBC.

Speaker:  Supachai Awiphan, National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand

Title:  The Center for Optics and Photonics at NARIT: Building Thailand’s Future in Advanced Optical Instrumentation for Astronomy and Beyond

Abstract:  Established in 2020, the Center for Optics and Photonics (COP) at the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) is dedicated to advancing the domestic development of high-precision optical instrumentation. With a mission that focuses not only on astronomy but also on atmospheric science, medical applications, and industrial technology, COP plays a crucial role in strengthening Thailand’s scientific and technological capabilities. The center has successfully developed several astronomical instruments, including a focal reducer, a low-resolution spectrograph, the EXOplanet High-Resolution Spectrograph (EXOhSPEC), and the Evanescent Wave Coronagraph (EvWaCo) with an adaptive optics system. These innovations significantly enhance the research capabilities of the 2.4-meter Thai National Telescope. Beyond that, COP contributes to international collaborations, such as the Dual-beam Automatic Rapid Transient Spectrograph (DARTS) for the 2.4-meter Lick Observatory, and is developing a 0.8-meter telescope for NARIT’s regional observatories. COP also supports broader scientific initiatives through instruments such as LiDAR systems, hyperspectral imager payloads, Raman spectrographs, and two-photon microscopes. Equipped with a cleanroom for precision assembly and a multidisciplinary engineering team, the center is not only expanding Thailand’s research infrastructure but also investing in human capacity building through training and knowledge transfer. COP envisions becoming Southeast Asia’s leading hub for optics and photonics for astronomy and beyond.

Speaker:  Krittapas Chanchaiworawit, National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand

Title:  NARIT’s Ultra-Precision Laboratory for Astronomical Applications and Space Missions 

Abstract:  This project aims to establish an Ultra Precision Metallic Mirror and Machining Laboratory at the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT). The main goal is to raise reflective surfaces from metallic materials for astronomy and space applications. Leveraging the capabilities of single-point diamond turning (SPDT), this lab will fabricate parabolic, spherical, aspherical, and freeform mirrors with sub-micron form accuracy and nanometer surface roughness. This effort will support the scientific endeavors of NARIT, especially the Centre for Optics and Photonics and the Thai Space Consortium, as well as collaborations with our UK partners such as CfAI, Durham University, and the UKATC. The immediate examples of the applications and prototype mirror manufacturable from the laboratory are lightweight folding mirrors for Low-Resolution Spectrograph (LRS), an image slicer and IFU upgrade for the Compact Low-Resolution Spectrograph (CoLoRS), and a primary deployable mirror for the cube-sat space telescope. Our collaborations with the CfAI at Durham University and UKATC enhance the capabilities in creating thermal-stable optics design and ultra-precision metrology. This initiative addresses the critical need for lightweight, radiation-hardened mirrors in Earth-observing CubeSats and deep-space instrumentations while fostering Thailand’s self-reliance in space technology in the near future.  In this talk, I will outline the project's current development and expected technology readiness under the FY-2568 (B.E.) Sciences and Technology Fund. This new infrastructure at NARIT will serve as a regional hub for ultra-precision solutions and a starting point for Southeast Asia’s contribution to global astronomical and space research.

Wednesday 30^th July OCW017 1pm

Speaker:  Dr Oliver Farley

Title: Exploiting optical turbulence for climate science with OTTER

Abstract: I will present a new instrument that we are developing, OTTER (Optical Turbulence for Tracing Energy in the atmospheRe), which has been funded as part of the ARIA Forecasting Climate Tipping Points programme. This programme is aiming to create an early warning system for two specific climate tipping points - loss of the Greenland ice sheet and the sub-polar gyre ocean circulation in the North Atlantic.

A key component of the modelling of these tipping points is high quality measurements of climate variables. Some of the most tricky to measure are the turbulent heat fluxes - transportation of energy from the surface into the atmosphere by turbulent convection currents. The current gold standard instrumentation gives single point measurements, averaged over very long timescales.

There is a link between turbulent fluxes and optical turbulence, and the OTTER project aims to apply methods developed for optical turbulence measurements in astronomy (SCIDAR) to these climate variables, aiming for 10-100m resolution over ~km scale paths. OTTER will utilise drone-based laser sources and a ground-based low SWaP-C receiver unit. I will outline the instrument concept, show some of the initial design work and some of the challenges we will face deploying to ice sheets - a more hostile environment than an astronomical observatory!