2026/07/29 by Marcelo Tala Pinto, Marshall C. Johnson, Julia Brady +18 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #astro-ph.IM
9 pages, 6 figures, SPIE Proceedings
arxiv created 2026/07/29 · arxiv updated 2026/07/31
iLocater is a diffraction-limited, fiber-fed spectrograph designed for the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), which targets high-precision radial velocity measurements in the near-infrared. Prior to deployment, comprehensive laboratory characterization was essential to validate instrument performance and inform alignment strategies. This paper presents results from four key areas of lab characterization: (1) adjustment and optimization of detector orientation to optimize spectrum alignment with the detector pixel grid across the focal plane; (2) the design and installation of a LED illumination source to enable high-fidelity flat-fields; (3) a model-based focusing methodology using OpticStudio image simulations to optimize the optical alignment of the spectrograph; and (4) assessment of instrument mechanical and optical stability under laboratory conditions. Together, these efforts established baseline performance metrics and demonstrated instrument readiness for delivery and on-sky commissioning.