pith. sign in

arxiv: 2605.23532 · v1 · pith:55FAQTK3new · submitted 2026-05-22 · 🌌 astro-ph.IM

Design and Development of Cassegrain Module for PARAS-2 Spectrograph (CAMPAS)

Pith reviewed 2026-05-25 02:46 UTC · model grok-4.3

classification 🌌 astro-ph.IM
keywords Cassegrain modulefiber-fed spectrographatmospheric dispersion correctorfiber injectioninstrument designPARAS-2PRL 2.5m telescopecalibration unit
0
0 comments X

The pith

CAMPAS module was designed and installed to couple the PRL 2.5 m telescope to the PARAS-2 spectrograph via focal reduction, fiber injection, and atmospheric dispersion correction.

A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.

The paper reports the in-house design, construction, and 2022 installation of the Cassegrain Module for PARAS-2 (CAMPAS) at one of the side ports of the PRL 2.5 m telescope. CAMPAS functions as the optical interface that reduces the telescope focal ratio, corrects atmospheric dispersion, injects light into the spectrograph fibers, supplies calibration sources, and supports point-spread-function monitoring. The module comprises a focal reducer, beam-guiding optics, an atmospheric dispersion corrector, fiber mounts, and a calibration unit; all subsystems were developed between 2020 and 2022 to meet the stability and beam-quality requirements of the high-resolution echelle spectrograph.

Core claim

The central claim is that a custom Cassegrain module consisting of a focal reducer, atmospheric dispersion corrector, fiber mounts, calibration unit, and auxiliary optics has been successfully designed, fabricated, and installed to deliver precise, stable light injection from the PRL 2.5 m telescope into the fibers of the PARAS-2 spectrograph while also enabling PSF estimation and atmospheric dispersion correction.

What carries the argument

The CAMPAS Cassegrain module, whose focal reducer, atmospheric dispersion corrector, and fiber-injection optics together form the interface that matches the telescope output beam to the spectrograph input.

If this is right

  • The spectrograph can receive light with corrected atmospheric dispersion across its operating wavelength range.
  • Calibration lamps can be injected into the same optical path used for science observations.
  • Point-spread-function monitoring becomes available at the fiber entrance to track telescope and instrument performance.
  • The module supports the first-light operation of the PARAS-2 spectrograph on the PRL 2.5 m telescope.

Where Pith is reading between the lines

These are editorial extensions of the paper, not claims the author makes directly.

  • Similar modular Cassegrain interfaces could be replicated for other fiber-fed spectrographs on mid-sized telescopes where atmospheric dispersion and fiber coupling stability are limiting factors.
  • The in-house development timeline of roughly two years indicates that comparable institutions could produce functional ADC-plus-fiber-feed units without external vendors.
  • Once operational, the module may enable science programs that require simultaneous calibration and dispersion-corrected spectra over long exposures.

Load-bearing premise

The selected optical layout and components will maintain the beam quality, stability, and throughput needed by the PARAS-2 spectrograph once mounted on the telescope.

What would settle it

On-sky measurements after installation that show the delivered fiber injection efficiency, residual atmospheric dispersion, or PSF stability falling short of the values required by the PARAS-2 spectrograph design.

Figures

Figures reproduced from arXiv: 2605.23532 by Abhijit G. Chakraborty, Ashirbad Nayak, Kapil Bharadwaj, Kevikumar A. Lad, Neelam J. S.S.V. Prasad, Nikitha Jithendran, Rishikesh Sharma, Vishal Joshi.

Figure 1
Figure 1. Figure 1: Schematic of the CAMPAS (not to scale) showing how starlight and a calibration light are [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p003_1.png] view at source ↗
Figure 2
Figure 2. Figure 2: Flowchart showing different activities related to the development of the CAMPAS. [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p005_2.png] view at source ↗
Figure 3
Figure 3. Figure 3: Opto-mechanical design of the CAMPAS: CAD model (Isometric View). [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p006_3.png] view at source ↗
Figure 4
Figure 4. Figure 4: Opto-mechanical design of the CAMPAS: CAD model - Top View showing different [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p006_4.png] view at source ↗
Figure 5
Figure 5. Figure 5: Optical layout of the star fiber feed system in the CAMPAS: The light from the telescope [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p007_5.png] view at source ↗
Figure 6
Figure 6. Figure 6: Geometric spot diagram at the star fiber tip across different field angles at 30 degrees [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p009_6.png] view at source ↗
Figure 7
Figure 7. Figure 7: (a) Displacement at fiber tip as a function of telescope altitude at different rotator positions [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p012_7.png] view at source ↗
Figure 8
Figure 8. Figure 8: Schematic block diagram of the CAMPAS control system illustrating how the various [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p014_8.png] view at source ↗
Figure 10
Figure 10. Figure 10: Schematic of the setup for the CAMPAS alignment. [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p014_10.png] view at source ↗
Figure 9
Figure 9. Figure 9: Screenshot of GUI developed for the CAMPAS. [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p015_9.png] view at source ↗
Figure 11
Figure 11. Figure 11: CAMPAS (marked with red box) installed on the PRL 2.5m Telescope. [PITH_FULL_IMAGE:figures/full_fig_p016_11.png] view at source ↗
read the original abstract

We present here the design and development of the CAMPAS, the Cassegrain Module for the PARAS-2 spectrograph. PARAS-2 is a high-resolution fiber-fed echelle spectrograph developed for the PRL 2.5m Telescope. The CAMPAS acts as a coupler between two optical systems, the PRL 2.5m telescope and the PARAS-2 spectrograph. It has primarily been developed for the precise injection of the light beam into the optical fibers of the PARAS-2 spectrograph. The CAMPAS consists of a focal reducer, beam-guiding optics, an atmospheric dispersion corrector, optical fiber mounts; a calibration unit incorporating calibration lamps and beam-guiding optics; and other auxiliary subsystems. It was developed in-house at PRL, Ahmedabad, between the years 2020-2022 and was installed at one of the two side ports of the PRL 2.5m telescope in March 2022. It is one of the first light instruments for the PRL 2.5m Telescope. The CAMPAS serves critical purposes of precise fiber feed, PSF estimation, and atmospheric dispersion correction.

Editorial analysis

A structured set of objections, weighed in public.

Desk editor's note, referee report, simulated authors' rebuttal, and a circularity audit. Tearing a paper down is the easy half of reading it; the pith above is the substance, this is the friction.

Referee Report

1 major / 0 minor

Summary. The manuscript describes the design, development, and installation of the CAMPAS (Cassegrain Module for PARAS-2 Spectrograph), a coupler between the PRL 2.5m telescope and the PARAS-2 high-resolution fiber-fed echelle spectrograph. It details subsystems including a focal reducer, beam-guiding optics, atmospheric dispersion corrector (ADC), optical fiber mounts, a calibration unit with lamps, and auxiliary components. The module was built in-house at PRL from 2020-2022 and installed at a side port of the telescope in March 2022 as one of the first-light instruments, with the stated purpose of enabling precise fiber feed, PSF estimation, and atmospheric dispersion correction.

Significance. If the optical layout delivers the required beam quality and stability, CAMPAS would provide essential capabilities for high-resolution spectroscopy on the PRL 2.5m telescope, supporting precise light injection into fibers and correction for atmospheric effects. The in-house development from 2020-2022 represents a concrete engineering achievement for the project team.

major comments (1)
  1. [Abstract] Abstract: The central claim that CAMPAS 'serves critical purposes of precise fiber feed, PSF estimation, and atmospheric dispersion correction' is unsupported by any measured performance data. The manuscript provides only a descriptive account of the focal reducer, ADC, and fiber mounts with no reported values for coupling efficiency, PSF metrics, ADC residuals, beam stability, or on-sky verification results to confirm the layout meets PARAS-2 requirements.

Simulated Author's Rebuttal

1 responses · 0 unresolved

We thank the referee for the detailed review and constructive comment. The manuscript is a design and development paper focused on the in-house construction and installation of CAMPAS; we agree that the abstract's phrasing implies demonstrated performance that is not supported by data in the current text. We will revise the abstract to accurately reflect the design intent rather than achieved results.

read point-by-point responses
  1. Referee: [Abstract] Abstract: The central claim that CAMPAS 'serves critical purposes of precise fiber feed, PSF estimation, and atmospheric dispersion correction' is unsupported by any measured performance data. The manuscript provides only a descriptive account of the focal reducer, ADC, and fiber mounts with no reported values for coupling efficiency, PSF metrics, ADC residuals, beam stability, or on-sky verification results to confirm the layout meets PARAS-2 requirements.

    Authors: We agree with the referee that the final sentence of the abstract overstates the module's demonstrated capabilities. The paper describes the optical design, mechanical implementation, and installation but does not contain on-sky verification or quantitative performance metrics. We will revise the abstract to state that CAMPAS is designed to enable precise fiber feed, PSF estimation, and atmospheric dispersion correction, removing any implication of measured performance. The revised sentence will read: 'The CAMPAS is designed to enable precise fiber feed, PSF estimation, and atmospheric dispersion correction.' No performance data will be added, as this manuscript is limited to the design and development phase. revision: yes

Circularity Check

0 steps flagged

No circularity: purely descriptive engineering report

full rationale

The manuscript is a design-and-development description of hardware components (focal reducer, ADC, fiber mounts, calibration unit) and their installation timeline. No equations, fitted parameters, performance predictions, or derivation chains appear in the provided text or abstract. The central claims are statements of purpose and construction history rather than quantitative results derived from inputs. No self-citations, ansatzes, or uniqueness theorems are invoked as load-bearing steps. The paper is therefore self-contained against external benchmarks with zero circularity.

Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger

0 free parameters · 0 axioms · 0 invented entities

No mathematical model, free parameters, or invented physical entities are present; the work is purely descriptive engineering.

pith-pipeline@v0.9.0 · 5781 in / 938 out tokens · 17558 ms · 2026-05-25T02:46:55.864207+00:00 · methodology

discussion (0)

Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.

Reference graph

Works this paper leans on

43 extracted references · 22 canonical work pages

  1. [1]

    2019 , volume =

    The randomnest experimental results ever , journal =. 2019 , volume =

  2. [2]

    1947 , volume =

    A true coincidence , journal =. 1947 , volume =

  3. [6]

    IAU Colloq

    The Fiber-Fed Spectrograph, a Tool to Detect Planets. IAU Colloq. 170: Precise Stellar Radial Velocities , year = 1999, series =

  4. [9]

    Abhijit Chakraborty and Nitesh Thapa and Kapil Kumar and Prasad J. S. S. V. Neelam and Rishikesh Sharma and Arpita Roy , title =. Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VII , organization =. 2018 , doi =

  5. [10]

    Fiber Optics in Astronomy , year = 1988, series =

    Focal ratio degradation in optical fibers of astronomical interest. Fiber Optics in Astronomy , year = 1988, series =

  6. [13]

    The Messenger , year = 2003, month = dec, volume =

    Setting New Standards with HARPS. The Messenger , year = 2003, month = dec, volume =

  7. [16]

    Suvrath Mahadevan and Lawrence Ramsey and Chad Bender and Ryan Terrien and Jason T. Wright and Sam Halverson and Fred Hearty and Matt Nelson and Adam Burton and Stephen Redman and Steven Osterman and Scott Diddams and James Kasting and Michael Endl and Rohit Deshpande , title =. Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV , organization =. ...

  8. [20]

    The Messenger , year = 2015, month = dec, volume =

    HARPS Gets New Fibres After 12 Years of Operations. The Messenger , year = 2015, month = dec, volume =

  9. [22]

    H Richardson , title =

    J M Hill and J R.P Angel and E. H Richardson , title =. Instrumentation in Astronomy V , organization =. 1984 , doi =

  10. [23]

    Astronomy & Astrophysics

    Attainment of Diffraction Limited Resolution in Large Telescopes by Fourier Analysing Speckle Patterns in Star Images. Astronomy & Astrophysics

  11. [24]

    Chasing exoplanets with the La Silla 3.6-m telescope

    HARPS: ESO's coming planet searcher. Chasing exoplanets with the La Silla 3.6-m telescope. The Messenger , keywords =

  12. [25]

    ESPRESSO front end: modular opto-mechanical integration for astronomical instrumentation

    Riva, Marco and Aliverti, Matteo and Moschetti, Manuele and Marco, Landoni and Dell'Agostino, Stefano and Pepe, Fabry and Mégevand, Denis and Zerbi, Filippo and Cristiani, Stefano and Cabral, Alexandre , year =. ESPRESSO front end: modular opto-mechanical integration for astronomical instrumentation

  13. [31]

    Jaehnig and Sarah E

    Christian Schwab and Ming Liang and Qian Gong and Chad Bender and Cullen Blake and Samuel Halverson and Daniel Harbeck and Fred Hearty and Emily Hunting and Kurt P. Jaehnig and Sarah E. Logsdon and Suvrath Mahadevan and Michael W. McElwain and Andrew J. Monson and Jeffrey W. Percival and Jayadev Rajagopal and Lawrence Ramsey and Paul M. Robertson and Arpi...

  14. [32]

    2016 , note = "

    ATmega328P: 8-bit AVR Microcontroller with 32K Bytes In-System Programmable Flash , author =. 2016 , note = "

  15. [33]

    Chakraborty , E

    A. Chakraborty , E. H. Richardson , and S. Mahadevan , `` PRL advanced radial-velocity all-sky search (PARAS): an efficient fiber-fed spectrograph for planet searches ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy II , Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Conference Series 7014 , 70144G (2008). [https://doi.org/10.1117...

  16. [34]

    Chakraborty , K

    A. Chakraborty , K. K. Bharadwaj , J. Siva Sehu Vara Prasad Neelam , et al. , `` The PRL 2.5m Telescope and its First Light Instruments: FOC and PARAS-2 ,'' Bulletin de la Société Royale des Sciences de Liège 93 , 68--88 (2024). [https://doi.org/10.25518/0037-9565.11602]

  17. [35]

    W. D. Heacox , `` On the application of optical-fiber image scramblers to astronomical spectroscopy ,'' Astronomical Journal (ISSN 0004-6256) 92 , 219--229 (1986). [https://doi.org/10.1086/114154]

  18. [36]

    Queloz , M

    D. Queloz , M. Casse , and M. Mayor , `` The Fiber-Fed Spectrograph, a Tool to Detect Planets ,'' in IAU Colloq. 170: Precise Stellar Radial Velocities , Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series 185 , 13 (1999). [https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1999ASPC..185...13Q]

  19. [37]

    Lo Curto , F

    G. Lo Curto , F. Pepe , G. Avila , et al. , `` HARPS Gets New Fibres After 12 Years of Operations ,'' The Messenger 162 , 9--15 (2015). [https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015Msngr.162....9L]

  20. [38]

    Mayor , F

    M. Mayor , F. Pepe , D. Queloz , et al. , `` Setting New Standards with HARPS ,'' The Messenger 114 , 20--24 (2003). [https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003Msngr.114...20M]

  21. [39]

    F. A. Pepe , S. Cristiani , R. Rebolo Lopez , et al. , `` ESPRESSO: the Echelle spectrograph for rocky exoplanets and stable spectroscopic observations ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III , SPIE Conference Series 7735 , 77350F (2010). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857122]

  22. [40]

    Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI , year = 2016, editor =

    C. Schwab, A. Rakich, Q. Gong, et al. , `` Design of NEID, an extreme precision Doppler spectrograph for WIYN ,'' in Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI , Proceedings of SPIE 9908 , 1--6, SPIE (2016). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234411]

  23. [41]

    Mahadevan, L

    S. Mahadevan, L. Ramsey, C. Bender, et al. , `` The Habitable-zone Planet Finder: a stabilized fiber-fed NIR spectrograph for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV , 8446 , 84461S, International Society for Optics and Photonics, SPIE (2012). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926102]

  24. [42]

    Mahadevan , L

    S. Mahadevan , L. W. Ramsey , R. Terrien , et al. , `` The Habitable-zone Planet Finder: A status update on the development of a stabilized fiber-fed near-infrared spectrograph for the for the Hobby-Eberly telescope ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V , SPIE Conference Series 9147 , 91471G (2014). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2056417]

  25. [43]

    Quirrenbach , P

    A. Quirrenbach , P. J. Amado , J. A. Caballero , et al. , `` CARMENES: an overview six months after first light ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VI , SPIE Conference Series 9908 , 990812 (2016). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231880]

  26. [44]

    Pepe , M

    F. Pepe , M. Mayor , G. Rupprecht , et al. , `` HARPS: ESO's coming planet searcher. Chasing exoplanets with the La Silla 3.6-m telescope ,'' The Messenger 110 , 9--14 (2002). [https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002Msngr.110....9P]

  27. [45]

    Cosentino , C

    R. Cosentino , C. Lovis , F. Pepe , et al. , `` Harps-N: the new planet hunter at TNG ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV , SPIE Conference Series 8446 , 84461V (2012). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925738]

  28. [46]

    Riva , M

    M. Riva , M. Aliverti , M. Moschetti , et al. , `` ESPRESSO front end: modular opto-mechanical integration for astronomical instrumentation ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V , SPIE Conference Series 9147 , 91477G (2014). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2056499]

  29. [47]

    S. E. Logsdon , M. J. Wolf , D. Li , et al. , `` The NEID port adapter: on-sky performance ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IX , SPIE Conference Series 12184 , 121844N (2022). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629004]

  30. [48]

    Schwab, M

    C. Schwab, M. Liang, Q. Gong, et al. , `` The NEID precision radial velocity spectrometer: optical design of the port adapter and ADC ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VII , 10702 , 1070271, International Society for Optics and Photonics, SPIE (2018). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2314420]

  31. [49]

    Kanodia , S

    S. Kanodia , S. Mahadevan , L. W. Ramsey , et al. , `` Overview of the spectrometer optical fiber feed for the habitable-zone planet finder ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VII , SPIE Conference Series 10702 , 107026Q (2018). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313491]

  32. [50]

    Quirrenbach , P

    A. Quirrenbach , P. J. Amado , J. A. Caballero , et al. , `` CARMENES instrument overview ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V , SPIE Conference Series 9147 , 91471F (2014). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2056453]

  33. [51]

    Chakraborty, N

    A. Chakraborty, N. Thapa, K. Kumar, et al. , `` PARAS-2 precision radial velocimeter: optical and mechanical design of a fiber-fed high resolution spectrograph under vacuum and temperature control ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VII , 10702 , 107026G, International Society for Optics and Photonics, SPIE (2018). [https://doi....

  34. [52]

    Labeyrie , `` Attainment of Diffraction Limited Resolution in Large Telescopes by Fourier Analysing Speckle Patterns in Star Images ,'' Astronomy & Astrophysics 6 , 85 (1970)

    A. Labeyrie , `` Attainment of Diffraction Limited Resolution in Large Telescopes by Fourier Analysing Speckle Patterns in Star Images ,'' Astronomy & Astrophysics 6 , 85 (1970). [https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1970A&A.....6...85L]

  35. [53]

    Nisenson , D

    P. Nisenson , D. C. Ehn , and R. V. Stachnik , `` Astronomical speckle imaging. ,'' in Imaging through the atmosphere , SPIE Conference Series 75 , 83--88 (1976). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.954741]

  36. [54]

    Pirnay , G

    O. Pirnay , G. P. Lousberg , A. Lanotte , et al. , `` Mt ABU 2.5m Telescope: design and fabrication ,'' in Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes VII , SPIE Conference Series 10700 , 107005S (2018). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313364]

  37. [55]

    L. W. Ramsey , `` Focal ratio degradation in optical fibers of astronomical interest. ,'' in Fiber Optics in Astronomy , Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series 3 , 26--39 (1988). [https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1988ASPC....3...26R]

  38. [56]

    J. M. Hill, J. R. Angel, and E. H. Richardson, `` Optical Matching For Fiber Optic Spectroscopy ,'' in Instrumentation in Astronomy V , 0445 , 85 -- 92, International Society for Optics and Photonics, SPIE (1984). [https://doi.org/10.1117/12.966130]

  39. [57]

    C. L. Morbey, ``Optical design of two spectrographs for the canada--france--hawaii telescope,'' Applied Optics 31 , 2291--2300 (1992). [https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.31.002291]

  40. [58]

    , Queloz, D

    Baranne, A. , Queloz, D. , Mayor, M. , et al. , `` ELODIE: A spectrograph for accurate radial velocity measurements ,'' Astronomy & Astrophysics Supplement Series 119 (2), 373--390 (1996). [https://doi.org/10.1051/aas:1996251]

  41. [59]

    M. T. Inc., ATmega328P: 8-bit AVR Microcontroller with 32K Bytes In-System Programmable Flash (2016). black Available at: https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/Atmel-7810-Automotive-Microcontrollers-ATmega328P_Datasheet.pdf

  42. [60]

    , keywords =

    S. Baliwal , R. Sharma , A. Chakraborty , et al. , `` Discovery and characterization of a dense sub-Saturn TOI-6651b ,'' Astronomy & Astrophysics 691 , A12 (2024). [https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202450934]

  43. [61]

    Baliwal , R

    S. Baliwal , R. Sharma , A. Chakraborty , et al. , `` TOI-6038 A b: A Dense Sub-Saturn in the Transition Regime between the Neptunian Ridge and Savanna ,'' The Astronomical Journal 169 , 147 (2025). [https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ada959]