Dr. Pascal Ballester Profile

Dr. Pascal Ballester

Physicist at European Southern Observatory

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (29)

Proceedings Article | 28 July 2014 Paper

Paper

Data products in the ESO Science Archive Facility

Jörg Retzlaff, Magda Arnaboldi, Martino Romaniello, Pascal Ballester, Paul Carson, Nausicaa Delmotte, Vincenzo Forchi, Wolfram Freudling, Armin Gabasch, Cesar Enrique Garcia-Dabo, Reinhard Hanuschik, Wolfgang Hummel, Maurice Klein Gebbinck, John Lockhart, Alberto Micol, Andrea Modigliani, Isabelle Percheron, Artur Szostak, Ignacio Vera Sequeiros

Proceedings Volume 9149, 914903 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055905

KEYWORDS: Data archive systems, Binary data, Data modeling, Observatories, Calibration, Imaging spectroscopy, Spectroscopy, Spectral calibration, Data processing, Near infrared

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Proceedings Article | 30 July 2010 Paper

Paper

The X-shooter pipeline

Andrea Modigliani, Paolo Goldoni, Frédéric Royer, Regis Haigron, Laurent Guglielmi, Patrick François, Matthew Horrobin, Paul Bristow, Joel Vernet, Sabine Moehler, Florian Kerber, Pascal Ballester, Elena Mason, Lise Christensen

Proceedings Volume 7737, 773728 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857211

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Data modeling, Near infrared, Calibration, Lamps, Instrument modeling, Spectrographs, Stars, Telescopes, Spectral resolution

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Proceedings Article | 30 July 2010 Paper

Paper

The new FORS pipeline

C. Izzo, L. de Bilbao, J. Larsen, S. Bagnulo, W. Freudling, S. Moehler, P. Ballester

Proceedings Volume 7737, 773729 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858043

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Imaging spectroscopy, Spectroscopes, Polarimetry, Observatories, Stars, Spectroscopy, Astronomical imaging, Charge-coupled devices, Telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 30 July 2010 Paper

Paper

Science data production at ESO: strategy, plans, and lessons learned

Martino Romaniello, Wolfram Freudling, Alain Smette, Christophe Dumas, Pascal Ballester

Proceedings Volume 7737, 773718 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856954

KEYWORDS: Data archive systems, Calibration, Observatories, Telescopes, Data acquisition, Software development, Space telescopes, Imaging spectroscopy, Adaptive optics, Data storage

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Proceedings Article | 25 July 2008 Paper

Paper

CRIRES: commissioning and first science results

Hans Ulrich Käufl, Paola Amico, Pascal Ballester, Eduardo Bendek Selman, Paul Bristow, Mark Casali, Bernard Delabre, Danuta Dobrzycka, Reinhold Dorn, Raul Esteves, Gert Finger, Gordon Gillet, Domingo Gojak, Michael Hilker, Paul Jolley, Yves Jung, Florian Kerber, Barbara Klein, Jean-Louis Lizon, Jerome Paufique, Jean-Francois Pirard, Eszter Pozna, Hugues Sana, Lilian Sanzana, Ricardo Schmutzer, Andreas Seifahrt, Ralf Siebenmorgen, Alain Smette, Jörg Stegmeier, Lowell Tacconi-Garman, Stefan Uttenthaler, Elena Valenti, Ueli Weilenmann, Burkhard Wolff

Proceedings Volume 7014, 70140W (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787259

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Sensors, Infrared radiation, Spectrographs, Lamps, Telescopes, Observatories, Cryogenics, Adaptive optics, Spectral resolution

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Proceedings Article | 12 July 2008 Paper

Paper

Detector monitoring as part of VLT science and data flow operations

Wolfgang Hummel, Lander de Bilbao, Andrea Modigliani, Lars Lundin, Paola Amico, Pascal Ballester, Gaspare LoCurto, Leonardo Vanzi

Proceedings Volume 7016, 70160R (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788662

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Calibration, Charge-coupled devices, Observatories, Detection and tracking algorithms, Capacitance, Infrared sensors, Contamination, Homogenization, Interfaces

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Proceedings Article | 29 June 2006 Paper

Paper

Data reduction pipelines for the Very Large Telescope

P. Ballester, K. Banse, S. Castro, R. Hanuschik, R. Hook, C. Izzo, Y. Jung, A. Kaufer, J. Larsen, T. Licha, H. Lorch, L. Lundin, A. Modigliani, R. Palsa, M. Péron, C. Sabet, J. Vinther

Proceedings Volume 6270, 62700T (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671229

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Spectrographs, Telescopes, Imaging spectroscopy, Sensors, Prototyping, Large telescopes, Algorithm development, Observatories, Spectroscopes

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Proceedings Article | 28 June 2006 Paper

Paper

Experiences from the first AMBER open time observations

Fredrik Rantakyrö, Pascal Ballester, Stephane Brillant, Gilles Duvert, Emmanuel Galliano, Christian Hummel, Andreas Kaufer, Mario Kiekebusch, Etienne Le-Coarer, Tom Licha, Fabien Malbet, Pedro Mardones, Florentin Millour, Sebastien Morel, Isabelle Percheron, Monika Petr-Gotzens, Romain Petrov, Andrea Richichi, Thomas Rivinius, Markus Schöller, Stan Stefl, Martin Vannier, Markus Wittkowski, Gerard Zins

Proceedings Volume 6268, 62681N (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671910

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Calibration, K band, Observatories, Astatine, Motion models, Astronomy, Spectral resolution, Lawrencium, Interferometry

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Proceedings Article | 27 June 2006 Paper

Paper

PRIMA for the VLTI: a status report

Francoise Delplancke, Frédéric Derie, Samuel Lévêque, Serge Ménardi, Roberto Abuter, Luigi Andolfato, Pascal Ballester, Jeroen de Jong, Nicola Di Lieto, Philippe Duhoux, Robert Frahm, Philippe Gitton, Andreas Glindemann, Ralf Palsa, Florence Puech, Johannes Sahlmann, Nicolas Schuhler, Thanh Phan Duc, Bruno Valat, Anders Wallander

Proceedings Volume 6268, 62680U (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.660395

KEYWORDS: Stars, Telescopes, Metrology, Sensors, Mirrors, Actuators, Interferometers, Control systems, Beam splitters, Calibration

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

Paper

Preparing MIDI science operation at VLTI

Sebastien Morel, Pascal Ballester, Bertrand Bauvir, Peter Biereichel, Jean-Gabriel Cuby, Emmanuel Galliano, Nicholas Haddad, Nico Housen, Christian Hummel, Andreas Kaufer, Pierre Kervella, Isabelle Percheron, Florence Puech, Fredrik Rantakyro, Andrea Richichi, Cyrus Sabet, Markus Schoeller, Jason Spyromilio, Martin Vannier, Anders Wallander, Markus Wittkowski, Christoph Leinert, Uwe Graser, Udo Neumann, Walter Jaffe, Jeroen de Jong

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550116

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Interferometry, Visibility, Observatories, Calibration, Interferometers, Sensors, Electronics, Photometry, Mirrors

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

Paper

Quality control and instrument trending for MIDI: First Quality Control and Data Flow Operations Results

Isabelle Percheron, Pascal Ballester, Cyrus Sabet, Markus Wittkowski, Sebastien Morel, Andrea Richichi

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.551183

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Visibility, Data processing, Astronomy, Photometry, Interferometry, Data storage, Interferometers, Telescopes, Stars

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

Paper

VLTI technical advances: present and future

Andreas Glindemann, Maja Albertsen, Luigi Andolfato, Gerardo Avila, Pascal Ballester, Bertrand Bauvir, Francoise Delplancke, Frederic Derie, Martin Dimmler, Philippe Duhoux, Emmanuel di Folco, R. Frahm, Emmanuel Galliano, Bruno Gilli, Paul Giordano, Philippe Gitton, Stephane Guisard, Nico Housen, Christian Hummel, Alexis Huxley, Robert Karban, Pierre Kervella, Mario Kiekebusch, Bertrand Koehler, Samuel Leveque, Tom Licha, Antonio Longinotti, Derek McKay, Serge Menardi, Guy Monnet, Sebastien Morel, Francesco Paresce, Isabelle Percheron, Monika Petr-Gotzens, Thanh Phan Duc, Joerg-Uwe Pott, Florence Puech, Fredrik Rantakyro, Andrea Richichi, Cyrus Sabet, Kevin Scales, Markus Schoeller, N. Schuhler, Mario van den Ancker, Martin Vannier, Anders Wallander, Markus Wittkowski, Rainer Wilhelm

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.551468

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Stars, Interferometry, Sensors, Adaptive optics, Astatine, Observatories, Near infrared, Mid-IR, IRIS Consortium

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

Paper

Observing with the VLT interferometer

Markus Wittkowski, Pascal Ballester, Tim Canavan, Fernando Comeron, Christian Hummel, Andreas Kaufer, Stephane Marteau, Gautier Mathys, Sebastien Morel, Petra Nass, Isabelle Percheron, Michele Peron, Monika Petr-Gotzens, Fredrik Rantakyro, Andrea Richichi, Markus Schoeller, David Silva, Mario van den Ancker, Anders Wallander

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550389

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Stars, Visibility, Interferometry, Telescopes, Interferometers, Astatine, Data archive systems, Mid-IR, Prisms

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Proceedings Article | 30 September 2004 Paper

Paper

CRIRES: a high-resolution infrared spectrograph for ESO's VLT

Hans-Ulrich Kaeufl, Pascal Ballester, Peter Biereichel, Bernard Delabre, Rob Donaldson, Reinhold Dorn, Enrico Fedrigo, Gert Finger, Gerhard Fischer, Francis Franza, Domingo Gojak, Gotthard Huster, Yves Jung, Jean-Louis Lizon, Leander Mehrgan, Manfred Meyer, Alan Moorwood, Jean-Francois Pirard, Jerome Paufique, Eszter Pozna, Ralf Siebenmorgen, Armin Silber, Joerg Stegmeier, Stefan Wegerer

Proceedings Volume 5492, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.551480

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Infrared radiation, Spectrographs, Calibration, Adaptive optics, Stars, Infrared spectroscopy, Cryogenics, Prisms, Spectral resolution

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Proceedings Article | 16 September 2004 Paper

Paper

VLT interferometry in the data flow system

Pascal Ballester, Tom Licha, Derek McKay, Isabelle Percheron, Michele Peron, Andrea Richichi, Cyrus Sabet, Markus Wittkowski

Proceedings Volume 5493, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.551098

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Interferometry, Visibility, Telescopes, Interferometers, Data modeling, Data archive systems, Sensors, Binary data, Astronomy

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Proceedings Article | 16 September 2004 Paper

Paper

The common pipeline library: standardizing pipeline processing

Derek McKay, Pascal Ballester, Klaus Banse, Carlo Izzo, Yves Jung, Michael Kiesgen, Nick Kornweibel, Lars Lundin, Andrea Modigliani, Ralf Palsa, Cyrus Sabet

Proceedings Volume 5493, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.551214

KEYWORDS: Algorithm development, Software development, Standards development, Calibration, Observatories, Astronomy, Data processing, Large telescopes, Imaging systems, Data archive systems

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Proceedings Article | 16 September 2004 Paper

Paper

Observation planning tools for the ESO VLT interferometer

Derek McKay, Pascal Ballester, Jakob Vinther

Proceedings Volume 5493, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.551196

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Visibility, Data modeling, Signal to noise ratio, Atmospheric modeling, Interferometers, Calibration, Sensors, Interferometry, Instrument modeling

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Proceedings Article | 21 February 2003 Paper

Paper

Commissioning the VLT interferometer: from first fringes towards a general user facility

Markus Schoeller, Philippe Gitton, Javier Argomedo, Pascal Ballester, Bertrand Bauvir, Roy Van Boekel, Michael Cantzler, Serge Correia, William Cotton, Francoise Delplancke, Frederic Derie, Philippe Duhoux, Toomas Erm, Emmanuel di Folco, Vincent Coude du Foresto, Alberto Gennai, Bruno Gilli, Paul Giordano, Andreas Glindemann, Stephane Guisard, Pablo Gutierrez, Nico Housen, Gerhard Huedepohl, Alexis Huxley, S. Jackisch, Walter Jaffe, Pierre Kervella, Arno van Kesteren, Mario Kiekebusch, Bertrand Koehler, Samuel Leveque, Antonio Longinotti, Serge Menardi, Sebastien Morel, Lothar Noethe, Francesco Paresce, Isabelle Percheron, T. Phan Duc, A. Pino, D. Rabeling, A. Ramirez, Sylvie Robbe-Dubois, Andrea Richichi, A. Rijo, Cyrus Sabet, Stefan Sandrock, Damien Segransan, Jason Spyromilio, Roberto Tamai, Massimo Tarenghi, Anders Wallander, Rainer Wilhelm, Markus Wittkowski

Proceedings Volume 4838, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459678

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Interferometry, Astronomical imaging, Astronomy, Telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 21 February 2003 Paper

Paper

VINCI, the VLTI commissioning instrument: status after one year of operations at Paranal

Pierre Kervella, Philippe Gitton, Damien Segransan, Emmanuel di Folco, Pierre Kern, Mario Kiekebusch, Than Phan Duc, Antonio Longinotti, Vincent Coude du Foresto, Pascal Ballester, Cyrus Sabet, William Cotton, Markus Schoeller, Rainer Wilhelm

Proceedings Volume 4838, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459345

KEYWORDS: Interferometry, Optical fibers, Nanoimprint lithography, Stars, Telescopes, Visibility, Interferometers, Wavelets, Polarization, Cameras

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Proceedings Article | 21 February 2003 Paper

Paper

The VLTI: a status report

Andreas Glindemann, J. Algomedo, Rodrigo Amestica, Pascal Ballester, Bertrand Bauvir, E. Bugueno, Serge Correia, Francisco Delgado, Francoise Delplancke, Frederic Derie, Philippe Duhoux, Emmanuel di Folco, Alberto Gennai, Bruno Gilli, Paul Giordano, Philippe Gitton, Stephane Guisard, Nico Housen, Alexis Huxley, Pierre Kervella, Mario Kiekebusch, Bertrand Koehler, Samuel Leveque, Antonio Longinotti, Sebastien Morel, Francesco Paresce, Than Duc, Andrea Richichi, Markus Schoeller, Massimo Tarenghi, Anders Wallander, Markus Wittkowski, Rainer Wilhelm, S. Menardi

Proceedings Volume 4838, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.458117

KEYWORDS: Stars, Telescopes, Interferometry, Sensors, Astatine, Adaptive optics, Observatories, Interferometers, K band, Mirrors

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Proceedings Article | 13 December 2002 Paper

Paper

Status of VLTI control system: how to make an optical interferometer a data-producing facility

Anders Wallander, Javier Argomedo, Pascal Ballester, Bertrand Bauvir, Mauro Comin, Rob Donaldson, Philippe Duhoux, Alberto Gennai, Bruno Gilli, Nico Housen, Alexis Huxley, Robert Karban, Mario Kiekebush, Antonio Longinotti, Ivan Munoz, Than Phan Duc

Proceedings Volume 4848, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460963

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Control systems, Sensors, Digital signal processing, Standards development, Data modeling, Interferometers, Interferometry, Observatories, Astronomical telescopes

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After having established routine science operations for four 8 m single dish telescopes and their first set of instruments at the Paranal Observatory, the next big engineering challenge for ESO has been the VLT Interferometer. Following an intense integration period at Paranal, first fringes were obtained in the course of last year, first with two smaller test siderostats and later with two 8 m VLT telescopes. Even though optical interferometry today may be considered more experimental than single telescope astronomy, we have aimed at developing a system with the same requirements on reliability and operability as for a single VLT telescope. The VLTI control system is responsible for controlling and co-ordinating all devices making up VLTI, where a telescope is just one out of many subsystems. Thus the pure size of the complete system increases the complexity and likelihood of failure. Secondly, some of the new subsystems introduced, in particular the delay lines and the associated fringe-tracking loop, have more demanding requirements in terms of control loop bandwidth, computing power and communication. We have developed an innovative generic multiprocessor controller within the VLT framework to address these requirements. Finally, we have decided to use the VLT science operation model, whereby the observation is driven by observation blocks with minimum human real-time interaction, which implies that VLTI is seen as one machine and not as a set of telescopes and other subsystems by the astronomical instrument. In this paper we describe the as-built architecture of the VLTI control and data flow system, emphasising how new techniques have been incorporated, while at the same time the investments in technology and know-how obtained during the VLT years have been protected. The result has been a faster development cycle, a robustness approaching that of VLT single dish telescopes and a "look and feel" identical to all other ESO observing facilities. We present operation, performance and development cost data to confirm this. Finally we discuss the plans for the coming years, when more and more subsystems will be added in order to explore the full potential of the VLTI.

Proceedings Article | 2 January 2002 Paper

Paper

VLT Interferometer Data Flow System: from observation preparation to data processing

Pascal Ballester, Alberto Chavan, Andreas Glindemann, Carlos Guirao, Walter Jaffe, Pierre Kervella, Michele Peron, Benoit Pirenne, Peter Quinn, Andrea Richichi, Cyrus Sabet, Markus Scholler, Andreas Wicenec, Rainer Wilhelm, Bruce Wiseman, Markus Wittkowski, Stefano Zampieri

Proceedings Volume 4844, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460619

KEYWORDS: Interferometry, Telescopes, Interferometers, Calibration, Visibility, Data archive systems, Data processing, Observatories, Signal processing, Space telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 2 January 2002 Paper

Paper

Evolution and adaptation of the VLT data flow system

Jens Knudstrup, Karim Haggouchi, Michele Peron, Peter Quinn, Pascal Ballester, Klaus Banse, Tim Canavan, Alberto Chavan, Nicolas Devillard, Dario Dorigo, Carlos Guirao, Carlo Izzo, Yves Jung, Nick Kornweibel, Cynthia Mavros, Gerhard Mekiffer, Andrea Modigliani, Ralf Palsa, Francesco Ricciardi, Cyrus Sabet, Fabio Sogni, Jakob Vinther, Andreas Wicenec, Bruce Wiseman, Stefano Zampieri

Proceedings Volume 4844, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460665

KEYWORDS: Java, Observatories, Computer programming languages, Computer programming, Data archive systems, Virtual colonoscopy, Standards development, Databases, Telescopes, Control systems

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Proceedings Article | 1 November 2001 Paper

Paper

Data flow system for the very large telescope interferometer

Pascal Ballester, Alberto Chavan, Bill Cotton, Vincent Coude du Foresto, Andreas Glindemann, Carlos Guirao, Walter Jaffe, Pierre Kervella, Antonio Longinotti, Isabelle Percheron, Michele Peron, Than Phan Duc, Benoit Pirenne, Peter Quinn, Andrea Richichi, Markus Schoeller, Andreas Wicenec, Rainer Wilhelm, Markus Wittkowski, Stefano Zampieri

Proceedings Volume 4477, (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.447178

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Interferometers, Calibration, Data archive systems, Interferometry, Observatories, Visibility, Stars, Large telescopes, Astronomy

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Proceedings Article | 16 August 2000 Paper

Paper

FLAMES: a multi-object fiber facility for the VLT

Luca Pasquini, Gerardo Avila, Eric Allaert, Pascal Ballester, Peter Biereichel, Bernard Buzzoni, Cyril Cavadore, Hans Dekker, Bernard Delabre, F. Ferraro, Vanessa Hill, Andreas Kaufer, Heinz Kotzlowski, Jean-Luis Lizon, Antonio Longinotti, S. Moureau, Ralf Palsa, S. Zaggia

Proceedings Volume 4008, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.395491

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Calibration, Telescopes, Spectral resolution, Sensors, Interfaces, Microlens, Contamination, Manufacturing, Optics manufacturing

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Proceedings Article | 25 July 2000 Paper

Paper

Quality control systems for the Very Large Telescope

Pascal Ballester, Preben Grosbol, Klaus Banse, Antonio Disaro, Dario Dorigo, Andrea Modigliani, Jose Pizarro de la Iglesia, O. Boitquin

Proceedings Volume 4010, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.392500

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Databases, Data archive systems, Control systems, Instrument modeling, Data modeling, Associative arrays, Observatories, Telescopes, Java

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Proceedings Article | 3 July 1998 Paper

Paper

Data quality control and instrument modeling

Pascal Ballester, Michael Rosa, Preben Grosbol

Proceedings Volume 3349, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.316488

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Instrument modeling, Data modeling, Observatories, Sensors, Data analysis, Space telescopes, Data archive systems, Telescopes, Large telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 3 July 1998 Paper

Paper

VLT Data Flow System: from concepts to operations

Peter Quinn, Miguel Albrecht, Pascal Ballester, Klaus Banse, Alberto Chavan, Preben Grosbol, Michele Peron, David Silva

Proceedings Volume 3349, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.316474

KEYWORDS: Data archive systems, Calibration, Telescopes, Virtual colonoscopy, Control systems, Digital micromirror devices, Data storage, Prototyping, Astronomy, Space telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 18 September 1997 Paper

Paper

VLT data flow system: the NTT prototype experience

Michele Peron, Miguel Albrecht, Pascal Ballester, Klaus Banse, Alberto Chavan, Preben Grosbol, Peter Quinn, David Silva

Proceedings Volume 3112, (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.284223

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Prototyping, Data archive systems, Control systems, Telescopes, Databases, Observatories, Astronomy, Data storage

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Showing 5 of 29 publications

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