Assignment Description:
The NOVA instrumentation group at ASTRON is helping to build the largest optical-infrared telescope in the world, the Extremely Large Telescope (https://elt.eso.org/).
Many of the instruments that NOVA (https://www.astronomie.nl/) developed for international astronomical observatories must operate in a cold environment of 80 degrees Kelvin. For this purpose we have three cryostats at our location at Astron in Dwingeloo with which we perform tests. In this assignment you will work on the cryogenic test systems. The goal of this assignment is to build 1 generic control system for all three cryostats, such that everyone can work with it, the measured results are traceable and can be followed via a web-interface. The desire is to make multiple identical T-loggers/DAQ controllers, each with its own (but identical) GUI, so that the possibility remains to use multiple cryostats simultaneously. It is important that the measurement data be stored directly.
Tasks
Designing the control system including creating schematics, cable and construction/assembly drawings. The idea is to set up a 19” equipment cabinet with various patch panels and make procedures for on/off/emergency. The existing control PC web interface will need to be modernized. This means making a cable set to the 19” rack for each cryostat. Several cables have MIL-spec connectors and will need to be replaced or remade. The heaters in the three cryostats are of different ratings, this needs to be made uniform. Several test runs will be part of the upgrade. Setting up software packages for control & logging. Equipment from Agilent, HP, Cryocon, Phytron, among others. Finally, deliver documentation of the entire setup and complete existing documentation.
Possible profile of the intern
You are curious, dexterous, and can work independently and attentively. Furthermore, you are punctual and orderly and have a sense of humor.
Other comments
There is a suitable internship allowance and use can be made of the ASTRON shuttle bus between train station Hoogeveen and Dwingeloo. NOVA coordinates and stimulates astronomical research in the Netherlands and builds unique instrumentation on behalf of the universities of Amsterdam (UvA), Groningen (RUG), Leiden (UL) and Nijmegen (RU). NOVA works closely with the NWO institutes SRON and ASTRON. https://www.astronomie.nl/nwo-instituten-15
Contact information: for more information about the internship (both content and procedure), please contact Michiel Kregel: kregel@astron.nl.