On Sky Validation of the Polychromatic Laser Guide Star Concept

Physics – Optics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

1

Astronomical Instrumentation, Telescopes, High Angular Resolution, Astronomy, Diffraction Limited Imaging, Atmospheric Turbulence, Wavefront Sensing, Adaptive Optics, Laser Guide Star, Ccd &Amp, Emccd Detectors, Seismometers

Scientific paper

The atmospheric turbulence affects image quality and causes angular resolution losses at the focus of large ground based optical telescopes. Real time adaptive optics (AO) corrects wave front distortions measured with at least one bright reference source located within a tiny isoplanatic angle from the science object. At visible wavelengths, the probability to find one such natural star is ridiculously small. The laser guide star (LGS) solves the problem but the overall wavefront slope (referred here as tilt) remains undetermined. The Polychromatic Laser Guide Star will allow the use of AO with full sky coverage. Based on the tilt chromaticity, a multicolor reference spot is created in the upper atmosphere and the differential tilt is measured between two wavelengths to retrieve the tilt itself. In the present thesis, I describe ATTILA, an experiment designed to prove the feasibility of the concept in astronomical conditions. Observations carried on at Observatoire de Haute Provence on natural stars allowed us to establish the proportionality law that links the tilt and the differential tilt for the first time. A temporal monitoring of the two signals shows a good correlation. The accuracy obtained on the slope (about one Airy disk ) let us be optimistic for the future full ELP-OA demonstrator with lasers. This work required an in-depth characterization of a detector featuring the novel EMCCD technology as well as the implementation and tests of pendular seismometers dedicated to measure telescope angular vibrations.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

On Sky Validation of the Polychromatic Laser Guide Star Concept does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with On Sky Validation of the Polychromatic Laser Guide Star Concept, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On Sky Validation of the Polychromatic Laser Guide Star Concept will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1657152

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.