Adaptive Optics Simulations for Siding Spring

Abstract

Using an observationally derived model of optical turbulence profile, we have investigated the performance of adaptive optics (AO) at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia. The simulations cover the performance for AO techniques of singleconjugate adaptive optics (SCAO), multi-conjugate adaptive optics (MCAO), and ground-layer adaptive optics (GLAO). The simulation results presented in this paper predict the performance of these AO techniques as applied to the Australian National University (ANU) 2.3-m and Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) 3.9-m telescopes for astronomical wavelength bands J, H, and K. The results indicate that the AO performance is best for the longer wavelengths (K band) and in the best seeing conditions (sub 1 arcsec). The most promising results are found for GLAO simulations (field of view of 180 arcsec), with the field RMS for encircled energy 50% diameter (EE50d) being uniform and minimally affected by the free-atmosphere turbulence. The GLAO performance is reasonably good over the wavelength bands of J, H, and K. The GLAO field mean of EE50d is between 200 and 800 mas, which is a noticeable improvement compared with the nominal astronomical seeing (870-1 700 mas).

Avalanche photo diodes in the observatory environment: lucky imaging at 1-2.5 microns

“…Simulations have shown that the instrument will be near diffraction limited with a field of view of ≈ 30" × 30" with image sampling at 0.12". 6,7 The cryostat will be designed as a generic focal plane instrument suitable for high-cadence photometry and Lucky Imaging at other observatories.…”