European Solar Telescope (EST)
Europe
The European Solar Telescope (EST) is a next generation large-aperture solar telescope. With a 4.2-metre primary mirror, it will be optimised for studies of the magnetic coupling of the solar atmosphere. This will require diagnostics of the thermal, dynamic and magnetic properties of the plasma over many scale heights, by using multi-wavelength imaging, spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry. EST will specialise in high spatial and temporal resolution, using several instruments simultaneously to efficiently produce 2D spectral information.
The EST will operate in an open-air configuration on top of a 30m high concrete pier. The natural wind flushing is used for the thermal control of the telescope systems.
IDOM has developed for the EST Telescope Mount a stiff yet transparent to the air design, featuring a first rotor lock frequency of 12Hz, which allows complying with the pointing and tracking requirements when operating in open air without the protection usually provided by a tracking dome. The telescope structure is protected from the incoming solar radiation by a set of actively and passively cooled plates, ensuring a surface temperature as close as possible to ambient in order to avoid image degradation by local seeing effects.
The design work has covered, apart from the Telescope Mount, the Pier and the folding Enclosure.
More information about the project can be found in Sanquirce et al. “The European Solar Telescope Mount Design” Proc. SPIE 12182, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes IX, 121821H (2022)
