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CTIO Instrumentation (1Dec92)
(from CTIO, NOAO Newsletter No. 32, 1 December 1992)

The CTIO instrumentation program is continuing to mainly devote its
resources to two key areas: work on the new array controllers and
improving the 4-m telescope's image quality. However, there has also
been progress in other areas.

The ARCON project is now in the process of building the first batch of
"production" controllers; details are presented in an accompanying
article.  Because the detector control will in future be done through a
Sun computer, and because the demands of data reduction have in general
increased, we have begun the process of acquiring Sparcstation-10
machines  for the telescopes. Depending on the details of delivery,
installation, and ARCON implementation, we should have two or three
Sparcstation 10s on Tololo, at the 4-m telescope and the 1.5-m and/or
the 0.9-m telescopes.

Two Sparcstation 10-41 machines will eventually replace ctios3 and
ctios4 (currently Sparcstation 2s) as public-access data reduction
machines in La Serena. Installation of these new machines is expected
to be done around Christmas (of course).

The console-room move on the 4-m telescope was successfully carried out
in August, and most major instruments have been successfully operated
from the new location (the remainder should be checked out by the end
of the current semester). The old console room will be used only for
instrument set-ups and for visitor instruments that cannot be operated
from the ground floor console room. The smooth transition from the old
location to the new one is the result of a major effort by the Tololo
electronics section; they deserve considerable credit for the
smoothness with which the transition was accomplished. The removal of
heat sources from the observing floor should contribute to improving
the dome seeing.  Observers will also note that the new console room
and adjoining computer room also represent a better environment in
which to work (not surprisingly, given that the original console room
was designed for the instruments and computers of twenty years ago).

Installation of the dome venting doors is now complete, but routine
operation has not yet begun, as there are still some safety interlocks
and barriers which have to be implemented. This is expected to occur
shortly. Observers should note that the 4-m outside catwalk is now and
henceforth closed to general access.  (The access doors are now locked,
for this reason.)

Construction of the 4-m Prime Focus CCD unit is now largely completed,
and the instrument appears to be on schedule for commissioning in
December. Barring major setbacks, the PFCCD unit is expected to be
routinely available from first semester of next year onward. The
elements of the Prime Focus Corrector and Atmospheric Dispersion
Corrector are still being cemented in Tucson. As stated in the last
Newsletter, they will be shipped to Chile once this step is completed,
and final assembly of the PFC/ADC will then take place.

Design work on the HgCdTe IR Imager has now begun. Specifications are
described in an accompanying article.  This instrument is presently
expected to be available second semester of 1993.  This schedule is
still tentative, however---check the March 1993 Newsletter for an
update.

Jay Elias

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