Subunits 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 institute's participation in the construction of large telescopes and instruments such as the Large Binocular Telescope (PEPSI, AGW, ARGOS) and the Very Large Telescope (MUSE) or the largest solar telescope in Europe (GREGOR), the maintenance and improvement of instruments already in use (PMAS, STELLA, BMK10k) is also part of the work of Technical Section. The section is also responsible for the maintenance of historical instruments (Potsdam Great Refractor).

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

• Precision Mechanics Workshop (Head: Jens Paschke)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Optics (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.