Status update and closed-loop performance of the Magellan adaptive optics VisAO camera

摘要

We present laboratory results of the closed-loop performance of the Magellan Adaptive Optics (AO) AdaptiveSecondary Mirror (ASM), pyramid wavefront sensor (PWFS), and VisAO visible adaptive optics camera. The MagellanAO system is a 585-actuator low-emissivity high-throughput system scheduled for first light on the 6.5 meter MagellanClay telescope in November 2012. Using a dichroic beamsplitter near the telescope focal plane, the AO system will beable to simultaneously perform visible (500-1000 nm) AO science with our VisAO camera and either 10 μm or 3-5 μmscience using either the BLINC/MIRAC4 or CLIO cameras, respectively. The ASM, PWS, and VisAO camera haveundergone final system tests in the solar test tower at the Arcetri Institute in Florence, Italy, reaching Strehls of 37% ini'-band with 400 modes and simulated turbulence of 14 cm rsubo/sub at v-band. We present images and test results of the assembled VisAO system, which includes our prototype advanced Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector (ADC), prototypecalcite Wollaston prisms for SDI imaging, and a suite of beamsplitters, filters, and other optics. Our advanced ADCperforms in the lab as designed and is a 58% improvement over conventional ADC designs. We also present images andresults of our unique Calibration Return Optic (CRO) test system and the ASM, which has successfully run in closedloopat 1kHz. The CRO test is a retro reflecting optical test that allows us to test the ASM off-sky in close-loop using anartificial star formed by a fiber source.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.