Status of the MMT Observatory multiple laser beacon projector

Thomas E. Stalcup Jr.; Roger Angel; Michael Lloyd-Hart; Matthew J. Rademacher

doi:10.1117/12.735067

24 September 2007 Status of the MMT Observatory multiple laser beacon projector

Thomas E. Stalcup Jr., Roger Angel, Michael Lloyd-Hart, Matthew J. Rademacher

Proceedings Volume 6691, Astronomical Adaptive Optics Systems and Applications III; 66910M (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.735067
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The laser guidestar system at the MMT Observatory has produced its first closed loop results and should be producing ground-layer corrected closed loop images within a few months. The LGS system at the MMT is one of few in the world that uses atmospheric Rayleigh scattering from reliable, low-cost lasers, and is unique in its use of a dynamic refocus technique to increase the telescope depth of field for increased return flux. The resulting 10 km depth of field introduces additional constraints on the minimum spot size for the beam projector design. The short exposure spot size as measured at the telescope cassegrain focus is 0.65 arcseconds in 0.59 arcsecond seeing in the visible. Additionally, a method to correct for image motion due to telescope vibrations using accelerometer data has been successfully implemented.

Citation Download Citation

Thomas E. Stalcup Jr., Roger Angel, Michael Lloyd-Hart, and Matthew J. Rademacher "Status of the MMT Observatory multiple laser beacon projector", Proc. SPIE 6691, Astronomical Adaptive Optics Systems and Applications III, 66910M (24 September 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.735067

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