Measurement of focus and off-axis anisoplanatism using a sodium resonance beacon and binary stars

Michael Lloyd-Hart; Bruce P. Jacobsen; James Roger P. Angel; Richard G. Dekany; Barbara Carter; Walter J. Wild; Edward J. Kibblewhite; James W. Beletic

doi:10.1117/12.176062

31 May 1994 Measurement of focus and off-axis anisoplanatism using a sodium resonance beacon and binary stars

Michael Lloyd-Hart, Bruce P. Jacobsen, James Roger P. Angel, Richard G. Dekany, Barbara Carter, Walter J. Wild, Edward J. Kibblewhite, James W. Beletic

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2201, Adaptive Optics in Astronomy; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176062
Event: 1994 Symposium on Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1994, Kailua, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

We have obtained the first measurements with a sodium laser beacon of focus anisoplanatism over large aperture, at the Multiple Mirror Telescope. In complementary studies, the atmospheric turbulence at the high altitude and on the large scale responsible for the measured focus anisoplanatism was explored by observations of binary stars of different separations. We confirm the predictions of Kolmogorov theory, and derive an effective height for the turbulence of 5050 m above the telescope. These results confirm that the sodium laser guide star planned for use with the 6.5 m telescope conversion of the MMT in 1996 will allow diffraction limited infrared observations in the H and K bands.

Citation Download Citation

Michael Lloyd-Hart, Bruce P. Jacobsen, James Roger P. Angel, Richard G. Dekany, Barbara Carter, Walter J. Wild, Edward J. Kibblewhite, and James W. Beletic "Measurement of focus and off-axis anisoplanatism using a sodium resonance beacon and binary stars", Proc. SPIE 2201, Adaptive Optics in Astronomy, (31 May 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176062

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