MUST dome design based on dome seeing quantitative evaluation

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Multiplexed Survey Telescope (MUST) project is led by Tsinghua University, which entrusted the European Industrial Engineering (EIE) GROUP with the design, manufacture, and assembly of the dome. Located on Saishiteng Mountain in Qinghai Province, MUST benefits from exceptional atmospheric seeing conditions etc. Local dome seeing may be comparable to atmospheric seeing and requires careful consideration. This research, based on numerical simulations, focuses on refining the dome structure and temperature regulation strategies to achieve optimal dome seeing. The existing simulations only consider nighttime dome seeing and overlook the impact of daytime dome heating on nighttime conditions. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) part mostly relies on a steady-state k − ε model, which cannot simulate transient processes or capture optical turbulence. In this study, a comprehensive multiphysics field coupling simulation was conducted, encompassing radiation heat transfer, fluid heat transfer, CFD, and ray tracing. Simulations include both daytime and nighttime scenarios, taking into account the daytime heating of the dome due to solar irradiation, as well as dome seeing under natural ventilation at night. The CFD utilizes the large eddy simulation model, enabling three-dimensional transient simulation and the simulation of optical turbulence. Ultimately, the broadening of the point spread function was statistically analysed after a certain integration time, facilitating a quantitative evaluation of dome seeing. This numerical simulation approach is closer to real world conditions, improving simulation accuracy and addressing the shortcomings of existing simulations. Some qualitative conclusions are consistent with practical engineering experience. In the end, the dome seeing was successfully regulated to 0.21 arcsec, meeting the observational requirements.