Abstract
The Lick Observatory laser guide star adaptive optics system has been significantly upgraded over the past two years in order to establish it as a facility science instrument on the Shane 3 meter telescope. Natural Guide Star (NGS) mode has been in use in regular science observing programs for over a year. The Laser Guide Star (LGS) mode has been tested in engineering runs and is now starting to do science observing. In good seeing conditions, the system produces K-band Strehl ratios >0.7 (NGS) and >0.6 (LGS). In LGS mode tip/tilt guiding is achieved with a V ∼ 16 natural star anywhere inside a 1 arcminute radius field, which provides about 50% sky coverage. This enables diffraction-limited imaging of regions where few bright guidestars suitable for NGS mode are available. NGS mode requires at least a V ∼ 13 guidestar and has a sky coverage of <1%. LGS science programs will include high resolution studies of galaxies, active galactic nuclei, QSO host galaxies and dim pre-main sequence stars.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
Editors | R.K. Tyson, D. Bonaccini, M.C. Roggenmann |
Pages | 336-342 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Volume | 4494 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | Adaptive Optic Systems and Technologies II - San Diego, CA, United States Duration: Jul 30 2001 → Aug 1 2001 |
Other
Other | Adaptive Optic Systems and Technologies II |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | San Diego, CA |
Period | 7/30/01 → 8/1/01 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Condensed Matter Physics