Groups of Technical Section

Technical Section provides the instrumental prerequisites for astronomical research and technology transfer. The main field of application is the development, construction and test of earth-bound focal instruments as well as robotic telescopes. In addition to the participation in the construction of large telescopes and instruments such as the LBT (AGW, PEPSI) and the MUSE (at the VLT), the maintenance and improvement of instruments already in operation (PMAS, STELLA, BMK10k) is also part of the work of Technical Section. Likewise, the maintenance of historical instruments (Large Refractor Potsdam) is a task of the section.

Technical Section is organised in four working groups. For the realisation of instrumentation projects, the employees work together in interdisciplinary teams with complementary competences:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Precision Mechanics Workshop
  • Group Head: Jens Paschke
• Optics
  • Group Head: Dr. Ulrike Lemke
• Technical Software, Electronics, Detectors (TSED)

In addition to support services for the scientific section, Technical Section offers an apprenticeship training program.