J. A. L. Aguerri

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

J. A. L. Aguerri is a leading figure in astronomical instrumentation, whose work has been pivotal to the success of the WEAVE spectrograph at the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) in La Palma. His primary research focus lies in the design, development, and precise positioning of fibre-optic systems for wide-field spectroscopy. Aguerri’s major contributions centre on the fibre positioning technology that enables WEAVE’s 960-fibre multiplex to accurately capture light from thousands of celestial targets. He has authored key papers detailing the fibre positioning algorithms, concept, and final assembly of the instrument, with his most cited work (13 citations) outlining the algorithms that drive the "pick and place" mechanism. Through meticulous metrology and testing, Aguerri ensured the fibre positioner’s reliability, directly impacting WEAVE’s ability to conduct large-scale surveys of stars, galaxies, and quasars. His achievements include overcoming the engineering challenges of positioning over a thousand fibres behind a 2° prime focus corrector, a feat that has made WEAVE a next-generation facility for optical spectroscopy. Aguerri’s work has laid the groundwork for future multi-object spectrographs, cementing his role as a key innovator in astronomical instrumentation.