Kevin Middleton

About

Kevin Middleton is a key figure in the design and construction of the WEAVE spectrograph, a next-generation wide-field optical spectroscopy facility for the William Herschel Telescope. His research centers on the development of fibre positioning technology, specifically the "pick and place" systems that enable precise placement of over a thousand fibres to capture light from multiple celestial objects simultaneously. Middleton’s major contributions include the conceptualization, final assembly, and metrology of the WEAVE fibre positioner, a critical component that ensures the spectrograph’s 960-fibre multiplex operates with high accuracy. His work on fibre positioning algorithms, detailed in his most-cited paper (13 citations), has been foundational to the instrument’s success. Middleton’s efforts have directly enabled WEAVE to serve as a powerful tool for large-scale spectroscopic surveys, advancing studies in galaxy evolution and stellar populations. His achievements highlight the engineering precision required for modern astronomical instrumentation, making his contributions essential to the facility’s operational capability.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Fibre positioning algorithms for the WEAVE spectrograph

   13 citations · 2014
2. 2
   Fibre positioning concept for the WEAVE spectrograph at the WHT

   8 citations · 2014
3. 3
   Final assembly, metrology, and testing of the WEAVE fibre positioner

   6 citations · 2020
4. 4
   Developments in fiber-positioning technology for the WEAVE instrument at the William Herschel Telescope

   2 citations · 2016

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links