Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope
Monthly Operations Report
Status as of September 30, 2023
Table of Contents
1. Science/Technical Highlight (Anyone)
2. Photos (Anyone)
3. Directorate (Thomas and Dave)
3.1 Activities
NSF CA/CSA renewal
Following the August meetings with NSF regarding the renewal of the Cooperative Agreement (CA) and Cooperative Support Agreement (CSA), T. Rimmele and D. Boboltz consulted with the NSO Director on the impacts of the various plans and timelines for required NSF reports, proposals and reviews including:
The NSO Annual Progress Report (APR) for FY23, due November 2023 and the NSO Annual Program Plan for FY24, due January 2024.
A 1 (or possibly 2) year extension of the current CA/CSA for management of NSO.
Preparation of a Concept of Operations (ConOps) document and subsequent NSF external review.
Preparation of a 5-year proposal for the renewal of the CA/CSA for management of NSO.
DKIST Cycle 3 call for proposals
D. Boboltz prepared a release for Solar News notifying the community of the delayed timeline for Cycle 3 and the move to a new annual schedule for DKIST that includes an extended winter engineering and maintenance period. This release is being reviewed internally.
SOLARNET meeting
T. Rimmele attended the SOLARNET Congress “Sun in Science and Society”, September 11-15, 2023 in Venice/Mestre (Italy) and presented an overview of the status of DKIST.
Boulder Solar Day
T. Rimmele and D. Boboltz along with other DKIST staff members attended Boulder Solar Day, September 29 at the High Altitude Observatory in Boulder. T. Schad and D. Kuridze presented recent results from DKIST.
AURA Solar Observatory Council (SOC) meeting preparations
T. Rimmele prepared a DKIST overview talk for the SOC meeting and D. Boboltz prepared a talk on the DKIST Data Center with input from B. Tawa and A. Davey.
3.2 Financial Status
DKIST operations carried forward approximately $28.16M in unencumbered funds into FY 2023 from previous years. A total of $11.9M in new funding has been obligated by NSF thus far in FY 2023 for a total funding amount of $40.06M.
Financial status of
DKIST operational expenditures for August 2023 were $3.05M
Total YTD expenditures for DKIST operations are $26.30M.
The average DKIST spending for FY 2023 (burn rate; BR) is $2.39M / month.
4. Science Operations (Ali and Andres)
4.1 Status of Observing
The fourth observing window (OCP2.4) closed on .
The fifth observing window (OCP2.5) opened on (and will close on ).
was spent on ViSP external focus verification (on-sun activity, Instrumentation Group) and a Cryo-NIRSP straylight mitigation improvement (on-sun activity, Instrumentation Group).
4.1.1 Regular Cycle Observing
Observing Window | Experiment ID | Observing Date | FIDO Configuration | Proposal Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OCP2.4 | eid_2_70 |
| FIDO 3a | Spatio-temporally resolved linear scattering polarization in the Sr I line at 4607 A: a window to the small-scale photospheric magnetism |
OCP2.5 | eid_2_14 |
| FIDO 1b | Multi-height magnetic observations of a solar active region |
4.1.2 Solar Orbiter Co-Observing
DDT proposals for the co-observing with Solar Orbiter in October 2023 were finalized, approved, and submitted. These proposals were prepared and developed by DKIST scientists in collaboration with the Solar Orbiter team. It should be mentioned that for this October campaign also the IRIS team was included.
The respective experiments were created and end-to-end tested on the simulator by DKIST scientists.
4.1.3 Parker Solar Probe Co-Observing
N/A.
4.2 Observing Planning
The Mid-Term-Plan (MTP2.5) for the fifth observing window (OCP2.5, opening on ) was prepared and published.
OCP2.5 is dedicated to the FIDO configuration 1b.
Email was sent to inform Cycle 2 Proposers of accepted proposals about the opening of OCP2.5. Proposers are typically informed about the opening of a new observing window 1 week prior opening.
Short Term Planning (STP) meetings were prepared and held with the Resident Scientist team on (STP2.4.6), (STP2.5.1), and (STP2.5.2). Short-Term-Planning meetings are held every Friday during an observing window starting the Friday prior opening of the respective observing window.
FIDO1b experiments had to be revised and resent to the summit prior opening of the OCP2.5 window (DL-NIRSP IR2 not operational at the start of OCP2.5).
4.3 Science Operations Schedule and Training Activities
Daily schedule during the OCP2.5 observing window ( - ):
Arrive at DSSC (carpools): 5:45am
Leaving DSSC: 6:00am
Arriving at site: 7:00am
Start Observatory Shutdown: 3:00pm
Leaving site: 3:30pm
Arrive at DSSC (end of day): 4:30pm
Science Operations schedules two Science Operations Specialists (SOS), and one Resident Scientist (RS) to support daily science operations at the summit.
One Boulder Scientist participated in training as a Resident Scientist.
4.4 Science Operations Specialists
Use the DKIST simulator to practice pointing and instrument alignment for some of the FIDO 1b and Cryo experiments in preparation for OCP2.5
Discussion about OCP2.4 activities, problems, and lessons learned. After discussion, new documentation was created or updated. New procedures (or new versions) were reviewed and now are available official for operations:
4.5 Cycle Preparation
Preparations for the Cycle 3 Call are ramping up.
Time line discussions and meetings were held.
Discussions about the definition of what can be offered regarding the instruments capabilities and light distribution (FIDO configuration) have started.
4.6 Experiment Generation
The Cycle 2 experiment generation process has been completed. Nothing new to report.
4.7 Science Operations Management
Science Operations Specialist hiring process:
We received 79 applicants in 5 weeks that the position was open.
Seven candidates selected for Zoom interviews planned to start .
Hiring committee kick-off meeting to discuss the candidates, Zoom interview format, list of standard questions and evaluation system.
Developing a Jira Project to manage Science Operations staff training activities.
4.8 Science Operations Tools
OpsTools (Proposal Architect work, Experiment Architect work, OPMT work, Loki work) updates/activities should be included here(?) (this is actually Bret or JohnH/HLS and Bob Tawa/OpsTools).
4.8.1 Management
Hiring process for new OpsTool software engineer, interviews scheduled. (Bob to fill in details).
5 Technical Operations (Heather and Paul)
5.1 Site & Facility Status
5.2 Site & Facility Repairs, Improvements & Upgrades
5.2.1 Electrical/Electronics
5.2.2 Facility Management System
5.3 Mechanical/Thermal
5.4 Opto-Mechanical
5.5 Issues & Concerns
Environmental Safety & Health
6 Instrumentation Operations (Bret, Friedrich, and Dave H.)
6.1 Optics
6.1.1 System Optics
M3 Spare coating samples were sent for ellipsometetric measurement along with a large batch of system optics (M2 through M10) for ongoing system coating model monitoring. Both the polarization system model and the flux budget will be updated accordingly. Additional cleaning information was collected from the vendor for testing on large samples coated along with the M3 Spare.
The DSSC custom lab metrology system light source upgrade verification continues. Additional measurements show high spectral resolving power at sensitivity levels of parts-per-million level (OD6) are achievable, in some wavelengths achieving 10 parts per billion noise floor (OD8). Filter design verification at levels of for instrument filters is an ongoing effort. An example comparing Cryo-NIRSP filter theory to delivered optics is below. NDSP6 is the 6-simultaneous-spectrograph DSSC lab metrology system.
6.1.2 Facility Instrument Distribution Optics (FIDO)
The GS50T950 beam splitter has shipped to Maui.
The redward drift of FIDO coating performance identified during ViSP 486nm observations is being assessed with additional ellipsometric data on coating witness samples. Additional metrology at the vendor is also being performed and processed by the DKIST team.
The GS30T500 back side AR coating was done and coating stress interferometry data collected. The front side dichroic coating was adjusted to be slightly thicker per spectral metrology results. Stress test coatings are scheduled for next month.
6.1.3 Polarization Analysis and Calibration (PA&C)
Coating development is progressing on the fringe-suppressed Cryo-NIRSP modulator upgrade project. Multiple additional coating runs are being done and assessed by the DKIST team to attempt fringe suppression at specific spectral line wavelengths.
The MgF2 optical contact bonding post-fluid-jet-deterministic-polish (FJP) project received the first round of polished crystals for assessment at the DSSC Maui labs in our custom built spectropolarimeter (NDSP). Polishing results seem to indicate some anomalous polishing rates and similar non-uniform material properties. Our 4D PhaseCam profilometer was used to measure the surface micro-roughness impacts from the FJP processs. Assessment and data analysis is ongoing. An optical contact bond test will be performed in the coming weeks.
The upgraded NDSP lab spectropolarimeter was used to measure the very large (160x90mm) retarder received from deterministic fluid jet polishing and zero-heat ion assist coatings. This retarder is part of the ViSP beam balancing project for mitigation of grating induced polarization using DKIST-team created retarder designs. Additional progress was made at the vendor in fabrication of a set of smaller retarders (98x58mm) also required as part of this upgrade project. The DKIST team played an active part in re-optimizing the designs and doing manufacturing tolerance analysis.
6.2 Summit Instrumentation
6.2.1 Instrument Systems
Several hours of vibration monitoring was done September 7th and 8th. This included data with the Vibrometer mounted on the ViSP bench, wavefront telemetry data, and mechanical accelerometer data taken in coordination with TechOps team. The air handling units (AHUs) were run at various speeds and various equipment was switched off/on. Ongoing analysis of the combined data sets will assist with vibration assessment.
6.2.2 Wavefront Correction System (WFS)
6.2.3 Visible Spectro-Polarimeter (ViSP)
Spectral throughput spatial mapping data was collected in the DSSC labs using our custom metrology tools. The vendor data package was collected for all new spare filters as well as the original filter set. Analysis of this large data package is ongoing as it informed the low throughput detected in 486nm measurements some months ago.
6.2.4 Diffraction Limited Near-Infrared Spectro-Polarimeter (DL-NIRSP)
Some cold filters and samples have been sent for long wave IR throughput measurements to an outside vendor. Analysis of the DSSC data package on filter spatial transmission and blocking is ongoing.
A diffused, F/24 three-laser-wavelength alignment setup for MISI has been prototyped, and laser safety procedure discussions begun.
6.2.5 Cryogenic Near-Infrared Spectro-Polarimeter (Cryo-NIRSP)
6.2.6 Visible Broadband Imager
Improved out-of-band blocking for VBI is required when the upgraded FIDO grey beamsplitters are used. The final production dichroic bandpass blocking filters for VBI-Red were received at the DSSC. Initial measurements of optical density, filter spatial variation, and part-to-part performance variation have begun.
A set of prototype dichroic blocking filters for VBI-Blue were received. DSSC lab metrology was performed and adjustments to the coating design suggested to the vendor. Given possible coating throughput limitations, a SPEC document was developed and distributed to other vendors for quote.
6.7 Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO)
6.8 High Level Software (HLS)
6.9 Infrared Cameras
7 Data Center Operations (Bob and Alisdair)
7.1 Hardware Infrastructure
continued racking HW received in the 2023 by as it arrives from the warehouse. this includes applying asset tags for future tracking.
7.2 Software Infrastructure
7.2.1 Data Center
Updated Processing workers with expanded memory to allow the Cryo-NIRSP pipeline to run to completion. Previous memory allocations were insufficient and caused the peipeline to error out due to running out of memory
started working with the HLS group to design a data packaging method that would be used to transport Wavefront correction data to the DC and to the VBI processing team for use with the VBI and VTF data pipelines. Once the packaging and transport method are agreed to, the the ICD between the HLS and DC will be updated to reflect the additional data to be transmitted/received.
continued working on creating data reprocessing policies and processes. Policies decided upon so far include the number of past (superseded) data sets to be kept, how the reprocessed datasets should be linked to previous versions, and how changes should be publicized. Currently the process is in the design phase, meaning scoping out the software changes required to implement the policies.
7.2.2 Portal/Archive/Public
Update the public caveats page to include issues found in the ASDF files
7.3 Science Data Processing
7.3.1 Calibration Pipelines
Completed the Beta version of the CryoNIRSP pipeline and began processing data for the science team to assess. The pipeline will be updated as comments and suggestions are posted by the science team.
7.3.1 Data Released
There were a total of XX data sets released to their PIs and a total of YY data sets released to the public this month.
DataSets Released to PIs
Proposal ID | Instrument | Observe Date | Release Date (PI) | Release Date (Public) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Datasets Made Public
Proposal ID | Instrument | Observe Date | Release Date (Public) |
|---|---|---|---|