Instrument

We have some on-going problems with FIES stalling when doing calibrations. Both the controller (MOXA device) and the moving parts of the calibration unit in the adapter get power from the same source. It is suspected that the controller does not get sufficient power when, e.g., the arm or mask is moved, which causes the device to temporarily switch-off. As the control basically forgets what it was doing it also does not provide any proper feedback and the software stalls. The idea is to get a separate power supply for the controller to solve this.

In the past, we have had problems with the ThAr lamp (slowly) dying which causes variable shifts in the effective wavelength of the lines in the calibration spectra affecting the wavelength solution, particular important for radial-velocity work. The standard daytime calibration procedure now includes an automatic alarm system distributed by email to the duty staff in case the quality control system detects symptoms of a dying lamp.