Issues in the design and optimization of adaptive optics and laser guide stars for the Keck telescopes

Claire E. Max; Donald T. Gavel; Scot S. Olivier; James M. Brase; Herbert W. Friedman; Kenneth Avicola; J. Thaddeus Salmon; Anthony D. Gleckler; Terry S. Mast; Jerry E. Nelson; Peter L. Wizinowich; Gary A. Chanan

doi:10.1117/12.176051

31 May 1994 Issues in the design and optimization of adaptive optics and laser guide stars for the Keck telescopes

Claire E. Max, Donald T. Gavel, Scot S. Olivier, James M. Brase, Herbert W. Friedman, Kenneth Avicola, J. Thaddeus Salmon, Anthony D. Gleckler, Terry S. Mast, Jerry E. Nelson, Peter L. Wizinowich, Gary A. Chanan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2201, Adaptive Optics in Astronomy; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176051
Event: 1994 Symposium on Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1994, Kailua, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

We discuss issues in optimizing the design of adaptive optics and laser guide star systems for the Keck Telescope. The initial tip-tilt system will use Keck's chopping secondary mirror. We describe design constraints, choice of detector, and expected performance of this tip-tilt system as well as its sky coverage. The adaptive optics system is being optimized for wavelengths of 1 - 2.2 micrometers . We are studying adaptive optics concepts which use a wavefront sensor with varying numbers of subapertures, so as to respond to changing turbulence conditions. The goal is to be able to `gang together' groups of deformable mirror subapertures under software control, when conditions call for larger subapertures. We present performance predictions as a function of sky coverage and the number of deformable mirror degrees of freedom. We analyze the predicted brightness of several candidate laser guide star systems, as a function of laser power and pulse format. These predictions are used to examine the resulting Strehl as a function of observing wavelength. We discuss laser waste heat and thermal management issues, and conclude with an overview of instruments under design to take advantage of the Keck adaptive optics system.

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Claire E. Max, Donald T. Gavel, Scot S. Olivier, James M. Brase, Herbert W. Friedman, Kenneth Avicola, J. Thaddeus Salmon, Anthony D. Gleckler, Terry S. Mast, Jerry E. Nelson, Peter L. Wizinowich, and Gary A. Chanan "Issues in the design and optimization of adaptive optics and laser guide stars for the Keck telescopes", Proc. SPIE 2201, Adaptive Optics in Astronomy, (31 May 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176051

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