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arXiv · 2607.09388

Exploration of small footprint stick-slip piezoelectric actuators for use in the FLEX fibre positioner system for the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (WST)

Joseph W. Barrow·Suryansh Saxena·Jon S. Lawrence·Aaron Omadutt·Roelof S. de Jong
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Abstract

This work presents a novel stick-slip piezoelectric actuator for the FLEX fibre positioner, addressing the challenge of reducing footprint while maintaining precision in next-generation multi-object spectroscopic instruments such as the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (WST). The actuator combines compact geometry (3.2 mm diameter, sub 70 mm length) with high-resolution incremental motion, low power consumption, and high reliability. Three actuators can be integrated into a sub 7 mm diameter circle, enabling a simplified, single-plane assembly. This design offers a promising solution for miniaturized, accurate fibre positioning in wide-field spectroscopic applications.

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Joseph W. Barrow, Suryansh Saxena, Jon S. Lawrence, Aaron Omadutt, Roelof S. de Jong. 2026-07-10. Exploration of small footprint stick-slip piezoelectric actuators for use in the FLEX fibre positioner system for the Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope (WST). https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.09388

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