Fiber-Optic Testing & Characterization
For Astronomical Applications
Overview. This site documents testing done in 2007-2008 on the
focal-ratio degrdation (FRD) and throughput properties of
astronomincal fibers (multi-mode, fused-silica, step-index) to be used
on the SALT High Resolution Spectrograph and for IFUs for the WIYN
Bench Spectrograph. In addition to establishing characteristics of
specific fibers from CeramOptic and Polymicro, the research decsribed
here consists of methodological development and testing the
micro-bending theory of fiber FRD. Specifically, we describe the
design and optimization oflaboratory measurement aparatus, comparisons
of formed-beam injection to a laser-injection measurement process, and
analysis of multi-wavelength measurements.Principal Investigators include Lisa Crause (SAAO), Matthew Bershady (UW-Madison), and David Buckley (SAAO).
