scholarly journals Companion Detection Limits with Adaptive Optics Coronagraphy

2004 ◽  
Vol 202 ◽  
pp. 99-102
Author(s):  
B. R. Oppenheimer ◽  
R. G. Dekany ◽  
M. Troy ◽  
T. Hayward ◽  
B. Brandl
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Focal Plane ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Nearby Star ◽  
Point Spread ◽  
Spread Function ◽  
Adaptive Optics System ◽  
Circular Disks

We present a study of the Palomar Adaptive Optics System and the PHARO near infrared camera in coronagraphic mode. The camera provides two different focal plane occulting masks–opaque circular disks 0.43 and 0.97″ across. Three different pupil plane apodizing masks (Lyot masks) are also provided. The six different combinations of Lyot mask and focal plane mask suppress differently the point spread function of a bright star centered on the focal plane mask. We obtained images of the bright nearby star Gliese 614 with all six different configurations in the K filter. We measured the dynamic range achievable with these configurations. Within 2.5″, the dynamic range is at least 8 magnitudes at the 5σ level and as high as 12 in a 1 s exposure. This represents a substantial gain over similar techniques without adaptive optics.

scholarly journals Wind-driven halo in high-contrast images

2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A98
Author(s):  
F. Cantalloube ◽  
O. J. D. Farley ◽  
J. Milli ◽  
N. Bharmal ◽  
W. Brandner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Circumstellar Disks ◽  
Spectral Variation ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Point Spread ◽  
Very Large Telescope ◽  
Spread Function ◽  
Processing Techniques ◽  
Fundamental Limitation ◽  
Adaptive Optics System

Context. The wind-driven halo is a feature that is observed in images that were delivered by the latest generation of ground-based instruments that are equipped with an extreme adaptive optics system and a coronagraphic device, such as SPHERE at the Very Large Telescope (VLT). This signature appears when the atmospheric turbulence conditions vary faster than the adaptive optics loop can correct for. The wind-driven halo is observed as a radial extension of the point spread function along a distinct direction (this is sometimes referred to as the butterfly pattern). When this is present, it significantly limits the contrast capabilities of the instrument and prevents the extraction of signals at close separation or extended signals such as circumstellar disks. This limitation is consequential because it contaminates the data for a substantial fraction of the time: about 30% of the data produced by the VLT/SPHERE instrument are affected by the wind-driven halo. Aims. This paper reviews the causes of the wind-driven halo and presents a method for analyzing its contribution directly from the scientific images. Its effect on the raw contrast and on the final contrast after post-processing is demonstrated. Methods. We used simulations and on-sky SPHERE data to verify that the parameters extracted with our method can describe the wind-driven halo in the images. We studied the temporal, spatial, and spectral variation of these parameters to point out its deleterious effect on the final contrast. Results. The data-driven analysis we propose provides information to accurately describe the wind-driven halo contribution in the images. This analysis confirms that this is a fundamental limitation of the finally reached contrast performance. Conclusions. With the established procedure, we will analyze a large sample of data delivered by SPHERE in order to propose post-processing techniques that are tailored to removing the wind-driven halo.

scholarly journals ARGOS at the LBT

2018 ◽  
Vol 621 ◽  
pp. A4 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Rabien ◽  
R. Angel ◽  
L. Barl ◽  
U. Beckmann ◽  
L. Busoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Spectral Resolution ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Ground Layer ◽  
Spread Function ◽  
Nearby Galaxies ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Laser Guide ◽  
Adaptive Optics System

Having completed its commissioning phase, the Advanced Rayleigh guided Ground-layer adaptive Optics System (ARGOS) facility is coming online for scientific observations at the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). With six Rayleigh laser guide stars in two constellations and the corresponding wavefront sensing, ARGOS corrects the ground-layer distortions for both LBT 8.4 m eyes with their adaptive secondary mirrors. Under regular observing conditions, this set-up delivers a point spread function (PSF) size reduction by a factor of 2–3 compared to a seeing-limited operation. With the two LUCI infrared imaging and multi-object spectroscopy instruments receiving the corrected images, observations in the near-infrared can be performed at high spatial and spectral resolution. We discuss the final ARGOS technical set-up and the adaptive optics performance. We show that imaging cases with ground-layer adaptive optics (GLAO) are enhancing several scientific programmes, from cluster colour magnitude diagrams and Milky Way embedded star formation, to nuclei of nearby galaxies or extragalactic lensing fields. In the unique combination of ARGOS with the multi-object near-infrared spectroscopy available in LUCI over a 4 × 4 arcmin field of view, the first scientific observations have been performed on local and high-z objects. Those high spatial and spectral resolution observations demonstrate the capabilities now at hand with ARGOS at the LBT.

PHARO: A Near‐Infrared Camera for the Palomar Adaptive Optics System

2001 ◽  
Vol 113 (779) ◽  
pp. 105-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Hayward ◽  
B. Brandl ◽  
B. Pirger ◽  
C. Blacken ◽  
G. E. Gull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Optics ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Adaptive Optics System
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