SAM: a facility GLAO instrument

Andrei Tokovinin; Roberto Tighe; Patricio Schurter; Rolando Cantarutti; Nicole van der Bliek; Manuel Martinez; Eduardo Mondaca; Andres Montane

doi:10.1117/12.788015

14 July 2008 SAM: a facility GLAO instrument

Andrei Tokovinin, Roberto Tighe, Patricio Schurter, Rolando Cantarutti, Nicole van der Bliek, Manuel Martinez, Eduardo Mondaca, Andres Montane

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7015, Adaptive Optics Systems; 70154C (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788015
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

The SOAR Adaptive Module (SAM) will compensate ground-layer atmospheric turbulence, improving image resolution in the visible over a 3'x3' field and increasing light concentration for spectroscopy. Ground layer compensation will be achieved by means of a UV (355nm) laser guide star (LGS), imaged at a nominal distance of 10km from the telescope, coupled to a Shack-Hartmann wave front sensor (WFS) and a bimorph deformable mirror. Unique features of SAM are: access to a collimated space for filters and ADC, two science foci, built-in turbulence simulator, flexibility to operate at LGS distances of 7 to 14 km as well as with natural guide stars (NGS), a novel APD-based two-arm tip-tilt guider, a laser launch telescope with active control on both pointing and beam transfer. We describe the main features of the design, as well as operational aspects. The goal is to produce a simple and reliable ground layer adaptive optics system. The main AO module is now in the integration and testing stage; the real-time software, the WFS, and the tip-tilt guider prototype have been tested. SAM commissioning in NGS mode is expected in 2009; the LGS mode will be completed in 2010.

Citation Download Citation

Andrei Tokovinin, Roberto Tighe, Patricio Schurter, Rolando Cantarutti, Nicole van der Bliek, Manuel Martinez, Eduardo Mondaca, and Andres Montane "SAM: a facility GLAO instrument", Proc. SPIE 7015, Adaptive Optics Systems, 70154C (14 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788015

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