MULTIOBJECT SPECTROSCOPY - ENGINEERING DESIGN CONSTRAINTS FROM FIBER ASSIGNMENT OPTIMIZATION STUDIES

We have developed an assignment and optimization code for use in positioning optical fibers for observations with multiobject instruments. The code automatically finds nearly optimal configurations of the fibers, and allows for a wide variety of different instrumental designs. The user is also able to interact with the various routines at run time to improve/modify the final assignment. Using only the automated portion of this code, we have quantified the effects on target acquisition efficiency of simple modifications of the design of the instrument. We have also tested the effects of different degrees and kinds of clustering of target objects. This study is designed to provide a means to compare various options for the design of multiplexing instruments.