Update 22 June 2010: I’ve added some images acquired from Juan’s camera.
Yesterday was a day for detector tests, while the cryostat is still off the gondola. Several FTS runs were made at different waveplate positions, and the XY stage was set up for beam mapping. In the evening, a small team stuck around to point the gondola while there are stars for the star cameras.
Our number decreased again; Nick took Dina to Houston. But he picked up Natalie and Jamil, who arrived this morning.
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- Before any other business, the cryostat needs feeding
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- The pumped pot bubbles happily. The cryostat is happy
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- Every one of our lead bricks is currently on the gondola, to balance the scoop in absence of the cryostat
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- The FTS goes on a lift to be placed at the correct height
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- The open FTS with laser alignment jig, and computer to drive the motor
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- The laser used to align optical elements
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- As beam splitters, the FTS uses polarizing grids
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- The makeshift thermos/cold source supplies the signal
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- FTS-ign is yawny business
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- Matt is the inner frame catcher
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- Bathed in monitor light, Laura and Lorenzo point the gondola
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- The dark and pointing gondola, from outside
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- Matt whacks the scoop. Systematically
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- A small lamp illuminates the gondola for the sake of the timelapse video
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- I manually control the XY stage, as the cold source bubbles in front of me
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- Lorenzo meets the cold source
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- The balance tank mounted on a special piece at the bottom of the scoop
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- The balance tank is hose clamped to its holder
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- Laura busily prepares for the night’s pointing tests
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