Photonics Lab

Head : SRIRAM, S.

Photonics LabAt Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Optical Fabrication dates back to the year 1964 with hand working of optical components in one of the rooms attached to the solar tower in Kodaikanal. At the initiative of Late Prof.M.K.V.Bappu, the then Director, Mr..A.P.Jayarajan set up the optical workshop.

MirrorsMirrors up to the size 15 inches were being worked by hand till the first machine capable of handling mirrors up to 30 inches in diameter was fabricated at Kodaikanal workshop. This machine, since operational, has been used for the fabrication of first 20 inch sphere which is now the camera for the Coude spectrograph on 40 inch telescope. Later two 25 inches paraboloid for NAL and some other 24 inch and 30 inch optics were fabricated.

The Optical Workshop at Bangalore

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The year 1976 had brought a major addition in the facility of the Optical Workshop at Bangalore.

30" and 18" Polishing Machine

50" Polishing Machine in front

30'' Polishing Machine in front

2.34M Primary Mirror Inspection, Prof.M. K. V. Bappu (Right) , Prof. J. C. Bhattacharyya (Left) & Mr. S. Razack (Center)

A machine capable of handling mirrors up to 100 inches was commissioned in the same building in the year 1979, where an in-situ testing in a 25M high vertical tower is possible. The complete workshop is air conditioned for better controlled working of optical polishing and figuring.

2.34M Primary Mirror Surface Generation

2.34M Mirror Full Tool Grinding Operation

Prof. M. G. K. Menon and Prof. Radhakrishnan visiting Photonics Lab. In discussion with Prof. M. K. V. Bappu and Dr. A. K. Saxena

Nobel Laurate Prof. S. Chandrasekar visiting Photonics Lab and Prof. M. K. V. Bappu explaining.

Last updated on: February 20, 2024