The Prime Focus Corrector For Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), currently under construction, is designed to measure the expansion history of the Universe using the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation technique. The spectra of 40 million galaxies over 14000 sq deg will be measured during the life of the experiment. A new prime focus corrector for the KPNO Mayall telescope will deliver light to 5000 fiber optic positioners. The fibers in turn feed ten broad-band spectrographs.This paper describes the overall design and construction status of the prime focus corrector. The size and complexity of the system poses significant design and production challenges. The optics of the corrector consists of six lenses, ranging from 0.8 - 1.14m in diameter, two of which can be rotated to act as an atmospheric dispersion corrector. These lenses are mounted in custom cells that themselves are mounted in a barrel assembly the alignment of which can be actively controlled by a hexapod system to micrometer precision. The whole assembly will be mounted at the prime focus of the Mayall 4m telescope at Kitt Peak observatory and will be one of the largest lens systems ever built for an optical telescope. Construction of the corrector began in 2014 and is well advanced. The system is due to be delivered to the telescope for installation in early 2018.