Adaptive optics system for the Very Large Telescope

Norbert N. Hubin; Bertrand Theodore; Patrick Petitjean; Bernard Delabre

doi:10.1117/12.176073

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31 May 1994 Adaptive optics system for the Very Large Telescope

Norbert N. Hubin, Bertrand Theodore, Patrick Petitjean, Bernard Delabre

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Proceedings Volume 2201, Adaptive Optics in Astronomy; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176073
Event: 1994 Symposium on Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1994, Kailua, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

Adaptive optics is one of the main features of the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Use of the large telescopes for high spatial resolution imaging, high spectral resolution spectroscopy and astronomical spatial interferometry depends substantially on the availability of adaptive optics, which allows diffraction limited imaging for each individual telescope in the near infrared wavelength range (2.2 to 5 microns) and partial correction of atmospheric distortions towards the visible wavelength range. Recent decisions from ESO Council to postpone the VLT interferometer and the associated adaptive optics and Coude beams has led us to study the implementation of this capability at the Nasmyth focus. We present here the first preliminary conceptual design which follows the outline of the Coude configuration from the performance point of view. Some scientific pre-studies, such as sky coverage evaluation and statistics of observable objects are summarized. Finally an analysis of the different sources of image degradation after the adaptive optics correction, are described.

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Norbert N. Hubin, Bertrand Theodore, Patrick Petitjean, and Bernard Delabre "Adaptive optics system for the Very Large Telescope", Proc. SPIE 2201, Adaptive Optics in Astronomy, (31 May 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176073

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