  High-precision spectrographs play a key role in exoplanet searches using the
radial velocity technique. But at the accuracy level of 1 m.s-1, required for
super-Earth characterization, stability of fiber-fed spectrograph performance
is crucial considering variable observing conditions such as seeing, guiding
and centering errors and, telescope vignetting. In fiber-fed spectrographs such
as HARPS or SOPHIE, the fiber link scrambling properties are one of the main
issues. Both the stability of the fiber near-field uniformity at the
spectrograph entrance and of the far-field illumination on the echelle grating
(pupil) are critical for high-precision radial velocity measurements due to the
spectrograph geometrical field and aperture aberrations. We conducted tests on
the SOPHIE spectrograph at the 1.93-m OHP telescope to measure the instrument
sensitivity to the fiber link light feeding conditions: star decentering,
telescope vignetting by the dome,and defocussing.
  To significantly improve on current precision, we designed a fiber link
modification considering the spectrograph operational constraints. We have
developed a new link which includes a piece of octagonal-section fiber, having
good scrambling properties, lying inside the former circular-section fiber, and
we tested the concept on a bench to characterize near-field and far-field
scrambling properties.
  This modification has been implemented in spring 2011 on the SOPHIE
spectrograph fibers and tested for the first time directly on the sky to
demonstrate the gain compared to the previous fiber link. Scientific validation
for exoplanet search and characterization has been conducted by observing
standard stars.

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics