scholarly journals The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST)/Visible Broadband Imager (VBI)

Solar Physics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 296 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Friedrich Wöger ◽  
Thomas Rimmele ◽  
Andrew Ferayorni ◽  
Andrew Beard ◽  
Brian S. Gregory ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) is a ground-based observatory for observations of the solar atmosphere featuring an unprecedented entrance aperture of four meters. To address its demanding scientific goals, DKIST features innovative and state-of-the-art instrument subsystems that are fully integrated with the facility and designed to be capable of operating mostly simultaneously. An important component of DKIST’s first-light instrument suite is the Visible Broadband Imager (VBI). The VBI is an imaging instrument that aims to acquire images of the solar photosphere and chromosphere with high spatial resolution and high temporal cadence to investigate the to-date smallest detectable features and their dynamics in the solar atmosphere. VBI observations of unprecedented spatial resolution ultimately will be able to inform modern numerical models and thereby allow new insights into the physics of the plasma motion at the smallest scales measurable by DKIST. The VBI was designed to deliver images at various wavelengths and at the diffraction limit of DKIST. The diffraction limit is achieved by using adaptive optics in conjunction with post-facto image-reconstruction techniques to remove residual effects of the terrestrial atmosphere. The first images of the VBI demonstrate that DKIST’s optical system enables diffraction-limited imaging across a large field of view of various layers in the solar atmosphere. These images allow a first glimpse at the exciting scientific discoveries that will be possible with DKIST’s VBI.

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mats Carlsson ◽  
Bart De Pontieu ◽  
Viggo H. Hansteen

The solar chromosphere forms a crucial, yet complex and until recently poorly understood, interface between the solar photosphere and the heliosphere. ▪ Advances in high-resolution instrumentation, adaptive optics, image reconstruction techniques, and space-based observatories allow unprecedented high-resolution views of the finely structured and highly dynamic chromosphere. ▪ Dramatic progress in numerical computations allows 3D radiative magnetohydrodynamic forward models to take the place of the previous generation of 1D semiempirical atmosphere models. These new models provide deep insight into complex nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium chromospheric diagnostics and enable physics-based interpretations of observations. ▪ This combination of modeling and observations has led to new insights into the role of shock waves, transverse magnetic waves, magnetic reconnection and flux emergence in the chromospheric energy balance, the formation of spicules, the impact of ion-neutral interactions, and the connectivity between chromosphere and transition region. ▪ During the next few years, the advent of new instrumentation (integral-field-unit spectropolarimetry) and observatories (ALMA, DKIST), coupled with novel inversion codes and expansion of existing numerical models to deal with ever more complex physical processes (including multifluid approaches), is expected to lead to major new insights into the dominant heating processes in the chromosphere and beyond.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deen Wang ◽  
Xin Zhang ◽  
Wanjun Dai ◽  
Ying Yang ◽  
Xuewei Deng ◽  
...  

Abstract A 1178 J near diffraction limited 527 nm laser is realized in a complete closed-loop adaptive optics (AO) controlled off-axis multi-pass amplification laser system. Generated from a fiber laser and amplified by the pre-amplifier and the main amplifier, a 1053 nm laser beam with the energy of 1900 J is obtained and converted into a 527 nm laser beam by a KDP crystal with 62% conversion efficiency, 1178 J and beam quality of 7.93 times the diffraction limit (DL). By using a complete closed-loop AO configuration, the static and dynamic wavefront distortions of the laser system are measured and compensated. After correction, the diameter of the circle enclosing 80% energy is improved remarkably from 7.93DL to 1.29DL. The focal spot is highly concentrated and the 1178 J, 527 nm near diffraction limited laser is achieved.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Luca Giovannelli ◽  
Francesco Berrilli ◽  
Daniele Calchetti ◽  
Dario Del Moro ◽  
Giorgio Viavattene ◽  
...  

By the continuous multi-line observation of the solar atmosphere, it is possible to infer the magnetic and dynamical status of the Sun. This activity is essential to identify the possible precursors of space weather events, such as flare or coronal mass ejections. We describe the design and assembly of TSST (Tor Vergata Synoptic Solar Telescope), a robotic synoptic telescope currently composed of two main full-disk instruments, a Hα telescope and a Potassium (KI D1) magneto-optical filter (MOF)-based telescope operating at 769.9 nm. TSST is designed to be later upgraded with a second MOF channel. This paper describes the TSST concepts and presents the first light observation carried out in February 2020. We show that TSST is a low-cost robotic facility able to achieve the necessary data for the study of precursors of space weather events (using the magnetic and velocity maps by the MOF telescope) and fast flare detection (by the Hα telescope) to support Space Weather investigation and services.


2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhu ◽  
Naiting Gu ◽  
Shanqiu Chen ◽  
Lanqiang Zhang ◽  
Xiaoyun Wang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert-Jan Steeneveld ◽  
Roosmarijn Knol

<p>Fog is a critical weather phenomenon for safety and operations in aviation. Unfortunately, the forecasting of radiation fog remains challenging due to the numerous physical processes that play a role and their complex interactions, in addition to the vertical and horizontal resolution of the numerical models. In this study we evaluate the performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for a radiation fog event at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (The Netherlands) and further develop the model towards a 100 m grid spacing. Hence we introduce high resolution land use and land elevation data. In addition we study the role of gravitational droplet settling, advection of TKE, top-down diffusion caused by strong radiative cooling at the fog top. Finally the impact of heat released by the terminal areas on the fog formation is studied. The model outcomes are evaluated against 1-min weather observations near multiple runways at the airport.</p><p>Overall we find the WRF model shows an reasonable timing of the fog onset and is well able to reproduce the visibility and meteorological conditions as observed during the case study. The model appears to be relatively insensitive to the activation of the individual physical processes. An increased spatial resolution to 100 m generally results in a better timing of the fog onset differences up to three hours, though not for all runways. The effect of the refined landuse dominates over the effect of refined elevation data. The modelled fog dissipation systematically occurs 3-4 h hours too early, regardless of physical processes or spatial resolution. Finally, the introduction of heat from terminal buildings delays the fog onset with a maximum of two hours, an overestimated visibility of 100-200 m and a decrease of the LWC with 0.10-0.15 g/kg compared to the reference.</p>


1999 ◽  
Vol 202 (5) ◽  
pp. 497-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Warrant ◽  
K. Bartsch ◽  
C. Günther

The fast-flying day-active hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) has a remarkable refracting superposition eye that departs radically from the classical principles of Exnerian superposition optics. Unlike its classical counterparts, this superposition eye is highly aspherical and contains extensive gradients of resolution and sensitivity. While such features are well known in apposition eyes, they were thought to be impossible in superposition eyes because of the imaging principle inherent in this design. We provide the first account of a superposition eye where these gradients are not only possible, but also produce superposition eyes of unsurpassed quality. Using goniometry and ophthalmoscopy, we find that superposition images formed in the eye are close to the diffraction limit. Moreover, the photoreceptors of the superposition eyes of M. stellatarum are organised to form local acute zones, one of which is frontal and slightly ventral, and another of which provides improved resolution along the equator of the eye. This angular packing of rhabdoms bears no resemblance to the angular packing of the overlying corneal facets. In fact, this eye has many more rhabdoms than facets, with up to four rhabdoms per facet in the frontal eye, a situation which means that M. stellatarum does not possess ommatidia in the accepted sense. The size of the facets and the area of the superposition aperture are both maximal at the frontal retinal acute zone. By having larger facets, a wider aperture and denser rhabdom packing, the frontal acute zone of M. stellatarum provides the eye with its sharpest and brightest image and samples the image with the densest photoreceptor matrix. It is this eye region that M. stellatarum uses to fixate flower entrances during hovering and feeding. This radical departure from classical Exnerian principles has resulted in a superposition eye which has not only high sensitivity but also outstanding spatial resolution.


2019 ◽  
Vol 623 ◽  
pp. A6 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. JL. Fétick ◽  
L. Jorda ◽  
P. Vernazza ◽  
M. Marsset ◽  
A. Drouard ◽  
...  

Context. Over the past decades, several interplanetary missions have studied small bodies in situ, leading to major advances in our understanding of their geological and geophysical properties. These missions, however, have had a limited number of targets. Among them, the NASA Dawn mission has characterised in detail the topography and albedo variegation across the surface of asteroid (4) Vesta down to a spatial resolution of ~20 m pixel−1 scale. Aims. Here our aim was to determine how much topographic and albedo information can be retrieved from the ground with VLT/SPHERE in the case of Vesta, having a former space mission (Dawn) providing us with the ground truth that can be used as a benchmark. Methods. We observed Vesta with VLT/SPHERE/ZIMPOL as part of our ESO large programme (ID 199.C-0074) at six different epochs, and deconvolved the collected images with a parametric point spread function (PSF). We then compared our images with synthetic views of Vesta generated from the 3D shape model of the Dawn mission, on which we projected Vesta’s albedo information. Results. We show that the deconvolution of the VLT/SPHERE images with a parametric PSF allows the retrieval of the main topographic and albedo features present across the surface of Vesta down to a spatial resolution of ~20–30 km. Contour extraction shows an accuracy of ~1 pixel (3.6 mas). The present study provides the very first quantitative estimate of the accuracy of ground-based adaptive-optics imaging observations of asteroid surfaces. Conclusions. In the case of Vesta, the upcoming generation of 30–40 m telescopes (ELT, TMT, GMT) should in principle be able to resolve all of the main features present across its surface, including the troughs and the north–south crater dichotomy, provided that they operate at the diffraction limit.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Erena ◽  
José A. Domínguez ◽  
Joaquín F. Atenza ◽  
Sandra García-Galiano ◽  
Juan Soria ◽  
...  

The use of the new generation of remote sensors, such as echo sounders and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers with differential correction installed in a drone, allows the acquisition of high-precision data in areas of shallow water, as in the case of the channel of the Encañizadas in the Mar Menor lagoon. This high precision information is the first step to develop the methodology to monitor the bathymetry of the Mar Menor channels. The use of high spatial resolution satellite images is the solution for monitoring many hydrological changes and it is the basis of the three-dimensional (3D) numerical models used to study transport over time, environmental variability, and water ecosystem complexity.


2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goran B. Scharmer ◽  
Peter M. Dettori ◽  
Mats G. Lofdahl ◽  
Mark Shand

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S235) ◽  
pp. 405-405
Author(s):  
Marc Huertas-Company ◽  
Daniel Rouan ◽  
Geneviève Soucail ◽  
Olivier Le Fèvre ◽  
Lidia Tasca

AbstractWe present the results of observations of distant galaxies (z ~ 0.8) at high spatial resolution (~0.1"). We observed 7 fields of 1' × 1' with the NACO Adaptive Optics system (VLT) in Ks (2.2μm) band with typical V ~ 14 guide stars and 3h integration time per field. Observed fields are selected within the COSMOS survey area. We analyze the morphologies by means of B/D (Bulge/Disk) decomposition with GIM2D and CAS (Concentration-Asymmetry) estimators for 79 galaxies with magnitudes between Ks = 17 − 23 and classify them in three main morphological types (Late Type, Early Type and Irregulars). We obtain for the first time an estimate of the distribution of galaxy types at redshift z ~ 1 as measured from the near infrared at high spatial resolution.


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