Development and Testing of the LOVES Spectrograph

Abstract: In this report we present the testing and development made using the Lund Observatory Vacuum Echelle Spectrograph (LOVES) during the last few years. Hardware development includes an assembly from base components due to relocation and necessary calibrations of the optics. Software devel- opment includes the making of a basic image processing pipeline for the instrument. The testing of LOVES wavelength determination capabilities has been done by determining the wavelengths of a CCD exposure in the wavelength range between 2170-2570 ̊ using secondary iron reference lines. A total of 459 line wavelengths have been measured. Comparing these lines to references leads to the conclusion that LOVES is capable of making good wavelength measurements but more work is still needed for it to become a good scientific instrument.