Frictionless Telescopes in Antarctica: Why and How?

European Southern Observatory, Karl Schwarzschildstrasse 2, 85748 Garching, Germany

Abstract

Seeing quality in Antarctica is in the hundredth arcseconds range out of the boundary layer. To take advantage of this quality telescopes should be in thermal equilibrium with the outside environment and should minimize the non linearity's like limit cycles which will deteriorate tracking. At the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) 8 m telescopes this is realized using oil bearings and direct drives on the axes to avoid slip stick effects on the motion. In Antarctica this could be realized using magnetic bearings, possibly combined with motors, on the axes, with also advantages concerning power consumptions and maintenance of the system.