10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

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Merlin66
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10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

Post by Merlin66 »

I've been in discussions with ThorLabs Re. the possible construction of a longer slit version of their 10 micron x 3mm air slit plate.
https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9. ... up_id=1464
They now agree it would be possible to supply a version with a slit length of 6mm.
This would be a "special order" with a minimum EOQ of around >10 units.
This slit design would be suitable for spectroheliographs with a telescope <600mm focal length, to give full disk coverage.
If there is any interest in this slit, please contact me...........


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Re: 10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

Post by rsfoto »

Hi Ken,

Sounds interesting but before thinking in a slit plate ¿ where do I find the " easy " construction manual for an Spectroheliograph ? :mrgreen:

as well as a material list. I have plenty of FD Canon lenses in different focal lengths laying around.

Thanks Rainer


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Re: 10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

Post by Merlin66 »

My book covers all the technical, acquisition and processing aspects of the SHG.
“Imaging Sunlight with a digital SHG.” Available on Amazon etc. :D ;)

The SHG is really no more than using a high resolution spectrograph on a telescope to image the solar spectrum.
You need a fast frame video camera, I use the ASI 174 and the ASI 1600.
Fulvio Mete has a good website and recently presented his SGH book.
http://www.lightfrominfinity.org/Libro% ... graphy.pdf
There's also the SimSpec_SHG spreadsheet to allow you to evaluate the characteristics of your SHG......
SimSpec SHG V1_4.xls
(60 KiB) Downloaded 64 times


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Re: 10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

Post by thesmiths »

Hi Ken, did you manage to get Thorlabs to make a 6mm long, 10 micron slit? They do sometimes have "customer inspired" products listed on their website. Doug


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Re: 10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

Post by Merlin66 »

Doug,
Unfortunately I couldn't generate enough interest to move forward on this opportunity.

I have a couple of stainless steel ground slit plates which when mounted can give a variable 11mm long slit gap. Then there's the "re-conditioned" Surplus Shed adjustable slits. I still have a few in stock if anyone's interested.
Ken


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Re: 10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

Post by christian viladrich »

Hello Ken,
Just wondering ... maybe you can pass the message on Sol'Ex group ? It seems there are more and more people interested in using longer focal lengths.
Christian


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Re: 10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

Post by thesmiths »

I'm sure if to get the 100 or so members of the SolEx group involved, getting an order for 10 would be no problem. You can find the group here:
https://groups.io/g/Solex-project

I have used the 1 inch diameter ones and what I liked was they were compatible with their 1 inch tubes along with all the adapters and bits and pieces to mechanically hold them.


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Re: 10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

Post by Merlin66 »

I did make Shelyak aware of the “air gap” slit options.
They preferred to work with their existing reflective slit plate option.
Such is life.


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Re: 10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

Post by thesmiths »

I just sent an email to Thorlabs reiterating the interest in a 6mm x 10 micron "Ø1" Mounted Optical Slit" (and also possibly 15 and 20 micron). Let's see what they say.


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6mm long air gap mounted slit from Thorlabs

Post by thesmiths »

Amazingly, I received a relatively rapid positive response from Thorlabs. I sold them on the fact that there were at least 100 users of the SolEx spectroheliograph who might want to use a longer slit. They seem to supply some of optical components of the SolEx to Shelyak so they are probably aware of the market dynamics.

I recommended 6mm long and 10, 15 and 20 microns wide in a 1 inch diameter mount -- and they accepted this suggestion. Does anyone else have a requirement for an even wider slit of 25 micron?

Here is the reply from Eric Geoffrion, who is the General Manager of Thorlabs in Canada where they manufacture the mounted optical slits:
Hi Doug,

Thanks for reaching out to us. We have taken good note of your suggestion to make longer slits with various widths. We will start per your suggestion with a 10, 15 and 20 um with a length of 6 mm. You can expect to see them in our catalog by the end of the summer latest if all goes well. We would be pleased to send you some for evaluation as soon as we have made our first samples.

Thanks & Regards

Eric


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Re: 10 micron x 6mm Air gap slit plate

Post by christian viladrich »

This is good news :-)
It is probably worth to forward the info to Sol'Ex forum.


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