SOLARNET Conference: The Many Scales of the Magnetic Sun

FRANCIS: a fibre-fed prototype integral field unit for the near-UV

8 May 2023, 16:30

25m

Haus H, Telegrafenberg

Invited talk 1) Latest facilities to observe fundamental processes - space missions, telescopes, and instrumentation Latest facilities to observe fundamental processes - space missions, telescopes, and instrumentation

Speaker

David Jess (Queen's University Belfast)

Description

The Fibre-Resolved opticAl and Near-ultraviolet Czerny-Turner Imaging Spectropolarimeter (FRANCIS) was developed as a low-budget prototype integral field unit for the upcoming Indian National Large Solar Telescope. At its core, FRANCIS is a fibre-fed Czerny-Turner spectrograph that is designed to work within the spectral range of 350-700 nm, hence enabling high cadence and spatially resolved studies of spectral lines in the near-ultraviolet. In the summer of 2022, FRANCIS was shipped to the Dunn Solar Telescope in the Sacramento Peak mountains, New Mexico, USA, where it was commissioned and underwent science verification. The first-light observations are very encouraging, with the final data products suitable for mainstream scientific exploitation. Here, I will overview the history of the instrument, provide a snapshot of its strengths and associated weaknesses, indicate a timescale for future upgrades, as well as provide samples of its spectral imaging capabilities. At present, FRANCIS is available as a common user instrument at the Dunn Solar Telescope, so I will also highlight how interested parties can become involved with future observing campaigns.