A dedicated tool for a full 3D Cn^2 investigation

Franck Lascaux; Elena Masciadri; Susanna Hagelin

doi:10.1117/12.856900

6 August 2010 A dedicated tool for a full 3D C²_N investigation

Franck Lascaux, Elena Masciadri, Susanna Hagelin

Proceedings Volume 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III; 77334E (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856900
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In this contribution we present how the mesoscale model Meso-Nh model together with the Astro-Meso-Nh and a set of diagnostic tools allow for a full 3D investigation of the C²_N and derived integrated astroclimatic parameters. The possibility to study simultaneously 3D fields of meteorological and astroclimatic parameters permits us to provide a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of the atmospheric flow as well as the physical mechanisms that produce them. To illustrate the different diagnostics and their potentialities, we investigated one night and looked at instantaneous fields of meteorologic and astroclimatic parameters. To show the potentialities of this tool for applications in an Observatory we ran the model above sites with very different optical turbulence (OT) distributions: the antarctic plateau (Dome C, Dome A, South Pole) and a mid-latitude site (Mt. Graham, Arizona). We put particular emphasis on the 2D maps of integrated astroclimatic parameters (such as seeing, isoplanatic angles, ...) and to the possibility to calculate them in different slabs (having what ever thickness) at different heights in the troposhere. The latter option is particularly useful for the seeing. For this reason this is an useful tool of prediction and investigation of the turbulence structure and it can support the optimization of the AO, GLAO and MCAO systems running at the focus of the ground-based telescopes. The examples we provide put clearly in evidence that different astroclimatic sites present different OT behaviors. Besides, our tool allowed us for discriminating these sites.

Citation Download Citation

Franck Lascaux, Elena Masciadri, and Susanna Hagelin "A dedicated tool for a full 3D C²_N investigation", Proc. SPIE 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III, 77334E (6 August 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856900

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available