PUEO NUI: a feasible and fast upgrade of the CFHT adaptive optics system for high dynamic range imaging

Olivier Lai; Francois Menard; Jean-Charles Cuillandre

doi:10.1117/12.458834

7 February 2003 PUEO NUI: feasible and fast upgrade of the CFHT adaptive optics system for high dynamic range imaging

Olivier Lai, Francois Menard, Jean-Charles Cuillandre

Proceedings Volume 4839, Adaptive Optical System Technologies II; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.458834
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

Rethinking the efficient use of 4m-class telescopes in the dawning era of larger facilities is a timely but challenging debate. The extensive use of PUEO for imaging (and now spectroscopy) has kept CFHT at the forefront of scientific research with adaptive optics since its commissioning in 1996. Even though larger facilities are now starting to think about ways of implementing high order AO systems, we believe the medium size of the CFHT and the excellent quality of our site on Mauna Kea is a perfect combination to reach the highest performances with a high order AO system. The fields of application of high order adaptive optics are exciting: They include extremely high contrast imaging and coronography in the near-infrared and diffraction-limited imaging in the optical, with the corresponding gain in angular resolution. Specific science examples are described in and adjacent paper (Menard et al, these proceedings (4839-133)), and planned instrumentation in the form of four quadrant coronograph or existing dual (or triple) wavelength imagers (such as TRIDENT) would benefit tremendously from >90% Strehl ratios in the K band. Simulations of a high order (104 electrodes) curvature system have been performed and produce the required performance and are presented in an adjacent paper (Lai & Craven-Bartle, (4860-28)). Technologically, the system is quite simple and re-uses most of the opto-mechanics of the existing PUEO. Deformable mirrors and real time computers are well within existing (and commercially available) specifications. An innovative solution of using a dedicated low read noise CCD camera (specifically for curvature systems) overcomes the potential cost drawbacks of using avalanche photo-diodes (APDs). This detector is described in detail in an adjacent paper (Cuillandre et al, these proceedings (4839-31)).

Citation Download Citation

Olivier Lai, Francois Menard, and Jean-Charles Cuillandre "PUEO NUI: feasible and fast upgrade of the CFHT adaptive optics system for high dynamic range imaging", Proc. SPIE 4839, Adaptive Optical System Technologies II, (7 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.458834

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