MANIFEST for GMT, conceptual design for the fibre positioner

Helen M. McGregor; Jon Moller; Dylan Simpfendorfer; Jahanzaib Zahoor; Zhemin Cai; Jon Lawrence; Celestina Saavedra Lacombe; Jessica Zheng; Chris Coote; Lew Waller; Nirmala Kunwar; Tony Farrell; Tayyaba Zafar; Michael Goodwin; Vitor Neves-Hartmann

doi:10.1117/12.3105541

MANIFEST for GMT, conceptual design for the fibre positioner

Helen M. McGregor, Jon Moller, Dylan Simpfendorfer, Jahanzaib Zahoor, Zhemin Cai, Jon Lawrence, Celestina Saavedra Lacombe, Jessica Zheng, Chris Coote, Lew Waller, Nirmala Kunwar, Tony Farrell, Tayyaba Zafar, Michael Goodwin, Vitor Neves-Hartmann

Australian Astronomical Optics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference abstract

Abstract

MANIFEST is a fibre-positioning system for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) that will feed light from hundreds of deployable probes into high- and medium-resolution spectrographs, including G-CLEF and GMACS, across 350–1000 nm and future infrared instruments. Initially covering the corrected 14′ field-of-view, MANIFEST will later expand to the full 20′ field-of-view. It offers single fibres, multiple integral-field-units, and image-slicing for enhanced resolution and wavelength coverage. Key capabilities include high multiplexing, simultaneous multi-instrument observations, and adaptability for future instruments. Using a pick-and-place robotic system, MANIFEST will significantly boost GMT’s survey efficiency and scientific productivity. In this paper we present the conceptual design overview for MANIFEST.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI
Editors	Joël R. D. Vernet, Julia J. Bryant, Kentaro Motohara
Place of Publication	Bellingham, Washington
Publisher	SPIE
Number of pages	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3105541
Publication status	Published - 21 Aug 2026
Event	Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI - Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 5 Jul 2026 → 11 Jul 2026

Publication series

Name	Proceeding of SPIE
Publisher	SPIE
Volume	14149
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Copenhagen
Period	5/07/26 → 11/07/26

Keywords

MANIFEST
Fibre Positioner
GMT
Pick and Place

Access to Document

10.1117/12.3105541

Cite this

McGregor, H. M., Moller, J., Simpfendorfer, D., Zahoor, J., Cai, Z., Lawrence, J., Saavedra Lacombe, C., Zheng, J., Coote, C., Waller, L., Kunwar, N., Farrell, T., Zafar, T., Goodwin, M., & Neves-Hartmann, V. (2026). MANIFEST for GMT, conceptual design for the fibre positioner. In J. R. D. Vernet, J. J. Bryant, & K. Motohara (Eds.), Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI Article 14149-304 (Proceeding of SPIE; Vol. 14149). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3105541

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title = "MANIFEST for GMT, conceptual design for the fibre positioner",

abstract = "MANIFEST is a fibre-positioning system for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) that will feed light from hundreds of deployable probes into high- and medium-resolution spectrographs, including G-CLEF and GMACS, across 350–1000 nm and future infrared instruments. Initially covering the corrected 14′ field-of-view, MANIFEST will later expand to the full 20′ field-of-view. It offers single fibres, multiple integral-field-units, and image-slicing for enhanced resolution and wavelength coverage. Key capabilities include high multiplexing, simultaneous multi-instrument observations, and adaptability for future instruments. Using a pick-and-place robotic system, MANIFEST will significantly boost GMT{\textquoteright}s survey efficiency and scientific productivity. In this paper we present the conceptual design overview for MANIFEST.",

keywords = "MANIFEST, Fibre Positioner, GMT, Pick and Place",

author = "McGregor, \{Helen M.\} and Jon Moller and Dylan Simpfendorfer and Jahanzaib Zahoor and Zhemin Cai and Jon Lawrence and \{Saavedra Lacombe\}, Celestina and Jessica Zheng and Chris Coote and Lew Waller and Nirmala Kunwar and Tony Farrell and Tayyaba Zafar and Michael Goodwin and Vitor Neves-Hartmann",

year = "2026",

month = aug,

day = "21",

doi = "10.1117/12.3105541",

language = "English",

series = "Proceeding of SPIE",

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "Vernet, \{Jo{\"e}l R. D.\} and Bryant, \{Julia J.\} and Kentaro Motohara",

booktitle = "Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI",

address = "United States",

note = "Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI ; Conference date: 05-07-2026 Through 11-07-2026",

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McGregor, HM , Moller, J , Simpfendorfer, D , Zahoor, J , Cai, Z , Lawrence, J, Saavedra Lacombe, C, Zheng, J , Coote, C , Waller, L , Kunwar, N , Farrell, T , Zafar, T , Goodwin, M & Neves-Hartmann, V 2026, MANIFEST for GMT, conceptual design for the fibre positioner. in JRD Vernet, JJ Bryant & K Motohara (eds), Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI., 14149-304, Proceeding of SPIE, vol. 14149, SPIE, Bellingham, Washington, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI, Copenhagen, Denmark, 5/07/26. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3105541

MANIFEST for GMT, conceptual design for the fibre positioner. / McGregor, Helen M.; Moller, Jon ; Simpfendorfer, Dylan et al.
Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI. ed. / Joël R. D. Vernet; Julia J. Bryant; Kentaro Motohara. Bellingham, Washington: SPIE, 2026. 14149-304 (Proceeding of SPIE; Vol. 14149).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference abstract

TY - CHAP

T1 - MANIFEST for GMT, conceptual design for the fibre positioner

AU - McGregor, Helen M.

AU - Moller, Jon

AU - Simpfendorfer, Dylan

AU - Zahoor, Jahanzaib

AU - Cai, Zhemin

AU - Lawrence, Jon

AU - Saavedra Lacombe, Celestina

AU - Zheng, Jessica

AU - Coote, Chris

AU - Waller, Lew

AU - Kunwar, Nirmala

AU - Farrell, Tony

AU - Zafar, Tayyaba

AU - Goodwin, Michael

AU - Neves-Hartmann, Vitor

PY - 2026/8/21

Y1 - 2026/8/21

N2 - MANIFEST is a fibre-positioning system for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) that will feed light from hundreds of deployable probes into high- and medium-resolution spectrographs, including G-CLEF and GMACS, across 350–1000 nm and future infrared instruments. Initially covering the corrected 14′ field-of-view, MANIFEST will later expand to the full 20′ field-of-view. It offers single fibres, multiple integral-field-units, and image-slicing for enhanced resolution and wavelength coverage. Key capabilities include high multiplexing, simultaneous multi-instrument observations, and adaptability for future instruments. Using a pick-and-place robotic system, MANIFEST will significantly boost GMT’s survey efficiency and scientific productivity. In this paper we present the conceptual design overview for MANIFEST.

AB - MANIFEST is a fibre-positioning system for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) that will feed light from hundreds of deployable probes into high- and medium-resolution spectrographs, including G-CLEF and GMACS, across 350–1000 nm and future infrared instruments. Initially covering the corrected 14′ field-of-view, MANIFEST will later expand to the full 20′ field-of-view. It offers single fibres, multiple integral-field-units, and image-slicing for enhanced resolution and wavelength coverage. Key capabilities include high multiplexing, simultaneous multi-instrument observations, and adaptability for future instruments. Using a pick-and-place robotic system, MANIFEST will significantly boost GMT’s survey efficiency and scientific productivity. In this paper we present the conceptual design overview for MANIFEST.

KW - MANIFEST

KW - Fibre Positioner

KW - GMT

KW - Pick and Place

U2 - 10.1117/12.3105541

DO - 10.1117/12.3105541

M3 - Conference abstract

T3 - Proceeding of SPIE

BT - Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI

A2 - Vernet, Joël R. D.

A2 - Bryant, Julia J.

A2 - Motohara, Kentaro

PB - SPIE

CY - Bellingham, Washington

T2 - Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy XI

Y2 - 5 July 2026 through 11 July 2026

ER -

MANIFEST for GMT, conceptual design for the fibre positioner

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Keywords

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