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About

Randy P. Hammond is an optical engineer and astronomer whose work has been instrumental in advancing wide-field survey capabilities. His primary research areas include astronomical instrumentation, optical design, and survey telescope optimization. Hammond’s major contribution is the design and implementation of the new wide-field corrector for the fifth generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-V). This three-element corrector replaced the previous two-element design, which featured an aspherical focal surface and was not optimized for infrared observations. By improving the optical performance across a broader wavelength range, Hammond’s work directly enhanced SDSS-V’s ability to conduct multi-epoch, multi-object spectroscopy. His most cited paper, "On-sky performance of the SDSS-V wide field corrector" (2022, 3 citations), documents the successful deployment and on-sky validation of this system. While his citation count is modest, the impact of his engineering contributions is significant—enabling one of the most ambitious all-sky surveys in modern astronomy. Hammond’s achievements highlight the critical role of precision optical design in pushing the boundaries of observational astrophysics.