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| themis:history [2024/12/04 15:13] – etienne | themis:history [2024/12/16 16:23] (current) – etienne | ||
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| The Origins and Development of the THEMIS (Télescope Héliographique pour l’Étude du Magnétisme et des Instabilités Solaires) solar telescope encompass a rich history of international collaboration, | The Origins and Development of the THEMIS (Télescope Héliographique pour l’Étude du Magnétisme et des Instabilités Solaires) solar telescope encompass a rich history of international collaboration, | ||
| - | === Scientific motivation, conceptualization === | + | ==== Scientific motivation, conceptualization |
| In the latter half of the 20th century, solar physicists recognized that the Sun's magnetic field plays a crucial role in various solar phenomena, including sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. However, understanding the intricate details of the Sun's magnetic field required advanced observational tools capable of high-resolution measurements. | In the latter half of the 20th century, solar physicists recognized that the Sun's magnetic field plays a crucial role in various solar phenomena, including sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. However, understanding the intricate details of the Sun's magnetic field required advanced observational tools capable of high-resolution measurements. | ||
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| was presented for the first time to the Institut National d’Astronomie et de Géophysique (predecessor of INSU) in 1975. | was presented for the first time to the Institut National d’Astronomie et de Géophysique (predecessor of INSU) in 1975. | ||
| - | === Telescope design & Instrumentation Development | + | ==== Site selection (1970' |
| - | The design phase focused on creating a telescope optimized for high-resolution spectropolarimetric observations. Key considerations included: | + | The site selection for THEMIS was part of a larger project to search for optimal location for international solar observations. The |
| + | ** Joint Organization for Solar Observations** (JOSO) was funded in Catania, Italy, in 1969 with the aim to at establish a modern optical solar observatory with advanced instrumentation for high-resolution observation of solar atmospheric structures. Between 1969 and 1985, the JOSO was concerned with locating and testing observatory sites in which solar seeing allows a spatial resolution of the order of 0.1 arcsec for long periods of time. After the evaluation of about 40 locations, two sites on the Canary Islands were selected: Izana in Tenerife, and Roque de Los Muchachos, in La Palma, both at an altitude of about 2400 m. Those now hosts the majors European telescopes, such as the the Vacuum Solar Telescope (Germany), the Swedish Solar Telescope (Scandinavia), | ||
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| + | The Teide Observatory on Tenerife, Canary Islands, was selected as the site for THEMIS due to its optimal geographical and climatic conditions for solar observations. The Canary Islands offer stable atmospheric conditions with minimal turbulence, essential for high-resolution imaging. The location provides relatively easy access for international teams, facilitating collaboration and maintenance. | ||
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| + | ==== Telescope design & Instrumentation Development (1980' | ||
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| + | The design phase, directed by Jean Rayrole, | ||
| * Aperture Size: A 90 cm aperture was chosen to balance light-gathering power with the practicalities of ground-based operations. | * Aperture Size: A 90 cm aperture was chosen to balance light-gathering power with the practicalities of ground-based operations. | ||
| * Polarimetry capabilities: | * Polarimetry capabilities: | ||
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| High-precision spectropolarimeters were designed to analyze the polarization states of light across different wavelengths, | High-precision spectropolarimeters were designed to analyze the polarization states of light across different wavelengths, | ||
| * **a spectrograph, | * **a spectrograph, | ||
| - | * **a spectro-imager, | + | * **a spectro-imager, |
| * **an imaging spectrometer, | * **an imaging spectrometer, | ||
| - | === Site selection | + | ==== Construction (1990' |
| - | The Teide Observatory on Tenerife, Canary Islands, was selected as the site for THEMIS due to its optimal geographical and climatic conditions for solar observations. The Canary Islands offer stable atmospheric conditions with minimal turbulence, essential for high-resolution imaging. The location provides relatively easy access for international teams, facilitating collaboration and maintenance. | + | Securing adequate funding was a critical step in the development of THEMIS. The project received financial backing from national science agencies of the participating countries, as well as from European Union research funds aimed at fostering international scientific collaborations. Each partner country committed a portion of the budget, covering aspects such as construction, |
| - | + | ||
| - | === International collaboration and formation of partnerships === | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | Securing adequate funding was a critical step in the development of THEMIS. The project received financial backing from national science agencies of the participating countries, as well as from European Union research funds aimed at fostering international scientific collaborations.\\ | + | |
| - | * National Contributions: | + | |
| - | * European Grants: Additional funding was secured through European Union grants, which supported specific components like advanced spectropolarimetric instruments and adaptive optics systems. | + | |
| The THEMIS project was initiated as a collaborative effort primarily between three European countries: **France**, **Italy**, and **Spain**. This partnership leveraged the strengths of each nation' | The THEMIS project was initiated as a collaborative effort primarily between three European countries: **France**, **Italy**, and **Spain**. This partnership leveraged the strengths of each nation' | ||
| * France: The Institut National des Sciences de l' | * France: The Institut National des Sciences de l' | ||
| * Italy: The Instituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), part of CNR contributed significant expertise in solar physics and instrumentation. | * Italy: The Instituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), part of CNR contributed significant expertise in solar physics and instrumentation. | ||
| - | * Spain: | + | * Spain: |
| An agreement was signed between the French CNRS and the Italian CNR. The construction cost of 87.5 million francs was covered with 80% financed by the CNRS and 20% by the CNR. The same funding distribution applies to the operation of the instrument. Observation time is allocated as follows: 60% for the French, 15% for the Italians, 20% for the Spanish, and 5% for " | An agreement was signed between the French CNRS and the Italian CNR. The construction cost of 87.5 million francs was covered with 80% financed by the CNRS and 20% by the CNR. The same funding distribution applies to the operation of the instrument. Observation time is allocated as follows: 60% for the French, 15% for the Italians, 20% for the Spanish, and 5% for " | ||
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| - | ==Building the Telescope== | ||
| Construction began in the early 1990s, involving meticulous planning and execution to assemble the telescope' | Construction began in the early 1990s, involving meticulous planning and execution to assemble the telescope' | ||
| - | ===Commissioning and early operations=== | + | ==== Commissioning, first light and first phase of exploitation (1996-XXX) ==== |
| - | Before full-scale operations commenced, extensive testing was conducted to verify the telescope' | + | Before full-scale operations commenced, extensive testing was conducted to verify the telescope' |
| - | ==First light and early scientific results== | + | THEMIS |
| - | THEMIS | + | |
| - | XXXX | + | |
| - | === Evolution and enhancements | + | ==== Evolution and redesign (2010' |
| + | xxx | ||
| Over the years, THEMIS has undergone several upgrades to enhance its capabilities: | Over the years, THEMIS has undergone several upgrades to enhance its capabilities: | ||
| - | * **[[THEMIS Adaptive Optics]]**: Upgrades to adaptive optics systems to further reduce atmospheric distortions, | + | * **[[themis: |
| * Data Processing Improvements: | * Data Processing Improvements: | ||
| + | * Planetary observations: | ||
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| + | ==== New life for the THEMIS telescope (2020' | ||
| Despite advancements in space-based solar observatories, | Despite advancements in space-based solar observatories, | ||
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| + | ==== To go further ==== | ||
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| + | {{: | ||
| + | {{: | ||
