The cells will be named "cell #1", "cell # 2", "cell # 3", the number referring to the order of their production. There is a fundamental difference in the filling method of cell # 1 with respect to the other two. The amount of iodine inserted in cell # 1 was such to provide the proper line depth, but it would not evaporate completely, even at a high temperature of the cell (100°C). An increase in temperature would therefore evaporate more iodine, making the temperature stability of cell # 1 unsatisfactory. Cell #2 and cell # 3 instead were filled with just enough iodine that should completely evaporate at 60°C. The amount of iodine is smaller, reflecting itself in a smaller line depth, but the temperature stability is satisfactory.

The HARPS cell # 1 has low transmission, unsatisfactory temperature stability and line depth within the tolerance of the requirements. It could be used successfully in a temperature controlled environment.

The following list of requirements and some general comments are copied directly from Martin Kuerster memo .

Requirements given to manufacturer

Requirement 1:

Note: these values have a tolerance of about 10%.

As PTB could not provide us in advance with clear characteristics of the iodine cells (whose physical dimensions are tailored for the HARPS Cassegrain fiber adapter and non standard for them), measurements of the UVES cell were used as a reference to establish these requirements; it was decided that PTB would send us one cell after filling and await our feedback before proceeding with filling of the next. Eventually the best quality cell will be selected for use in the HARPS Cassegrain fiber adapter.

Temperature control

The cell temperature is measured by a thermistor inserted outside the cell, along the circumference of the cell cylindrical body, close but not in contact with the heating elements. A small PLC controls the heating, achieving a temperature stability better than 0.4 °C peak to peak. The long filling tube (~4cm) or neck of the cells is heated in such a way to avoid I2 trapping along its length. The colder part of the cells is the center of the windows, which is the part in contact with the external environment and farther away from any heating element. When turning off the heating elements of the cells, I2 condensation always happens on the center of the window, confirming that this is the coldest point in the system.

Ideally the control thermistor should be located in the coldest point of the system, to insure that the temperature is always above a certain limit for the whole system. This is clearly not practical in our case as the coldest point is along the optical path, which we do not want to obstruct.

At room temperature (20°C), a measured temperature of 100°C on the thermistor corresponds to a temperature of 82°C on the side of the cell's window; the center of the window is about 6°C cooler. In a 1°C environment the temperature on the side of the cell window is 77°C when the programmed temperature is 100°C. Tests were also performed in a -15°C environment, resulting in the temperature window's dropping by 4°C with respect to the 1°C environment. However, historically, observations at temperatures much below zero are unlikely, as a cold front generally brings clouds and snow, and the telescope dome is anyway closed.

The recommended operation temperature is 100°C at the thermistor, as a compromise between insuring complete sublimation of the iodine at every realistic temperature of operation and minimizing the amount of heat sources in the HARPS adapter.

A plot of the line depth as a function of temperature as measured by the control thermistor located on the outside of the cylindrical body of the cell, is shown in figure 1.

Figure 1.

Measurements

The CES spectrograph was used at a resolving power of R = 220,000 together with its white light flat field lamp to obtain iodine absorption spectra for the characterization of the HARPS iodine cells. The spectra obtained were convolved with a Gaussian to obtain a final resolving power of R = 100,000, i.e. the value for which the requirements had been established, based on the comparison with data of the UVES iodine cell taken at R = 100,000. The resolving power obtained after the convolution is also closer to the resolving power for which HARPS has been designed (R = 90,000).

At this moment, line depth and transmission are measured only for the 539.5 ± 1.8 nm wavelength, this being the representative wavelength for the region with the strongest iodine lines (and extensively used at CES). An update of this document is foreseen, where the same analysis will be carried out for other wavelengths.

When calculating the relative line strength and the transmission, the 7% stray light in the instrument has been taken into account and subtracted.

Results

Wavelength = 539.5 nm.

Measurement's errors are estimated to be of the order of 10%.

Calibration

The cells were calibrated at the Fourier Transform Spectrograph (FTS) at the U.S.A. National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Kitt Peak, Arizona. A calibration run was allocated on December 16th and 17th 2002. Alain Gilliotte performed the measurements assisted by the FTS support team. All measurements were performed with a dispersion of 0.007 cm-1 and a resolving power in the range 700,000<R< 1,000,000 depending on the wavelength. The wavelength range from 500nm to 710nm was covered; at the extremes of this range the iodine lines are negligible. The pre-reduced (bias subtracted, wavelength calibrated) data are written on CD. An instrument scan is also included in the data. The following table shows the measurement, the number of scans and the temperature at which the scan was carried over. The signal to noise at the peak of the interferogram is approximately 900 for 10 scans.

Cell number 1 was tested only at 110°C because this is its most likely temperature of use (less iodine crystals) and because we needed more time in order to improve the signal to noise of the measurement on iodine cell # 2 at 100°C (our best cell at the recommended temperature of use). This was made necessary as the time that was allocated to us was insufficient to achieve the signal to noise we requested (>2000).

Conclusions

For the wavelength range 539.5± 1.8nm line depth and transmission were measured from 60°C to 120°C for the three HARPS iodine cells.

Temperature stability of cell # 1 is unsatisfactory, while line depth is within the tolerance of the requirements. Transmission is lower than expected.

Iodine in cell # 2 sublimes completely at a lower temperature than in cell # 3. For this reason use of cell # 2 in the HARPS adapter is recommended. Cell # 3 could be used as a spare or it could be placed in the HARPS calibration unit. Cell # 1 could be used in the HARPS calibration unit, as this would be a temperature controlled environment (within 0.1°C) and temperature stability would not be an issue.

The recommended temperature of use of cell # 2 and cell # 3 is 100°C as measured by the installed thermistor, corresponding to a temperature of about 76°C on the center of the window's cell when the environment is at 20°C. This would guarantee that all iodine is completely saturated even at the lowest temperatures of operation that are realistically met in La Silla.

The cells are being delivered to E.S.O. - Vitacura. They should arrive in Santiago on Monday the 13th of January.

An update of this document with a characterization of the cells at other wavelengths will follow.