[en] The Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer is a high contrast imager and interferometer that sits at the combined bent Gregorian focus of the LBT's dual 8.4 m apertures. The interferometric science drivers dictate 0.1" resolution with 10[SUP]3[/SUP] - 10[SUP]4[/SUP] contrast at 10 μm, while the 4 μm imaging science drivers require even greater contrasts, but at scales <0.2". In imaging mode, LBTI's Adaptive Optics system is already delivering 4 μm contrast of 10[SUP]4[/SUP] - 10[SUP]5[/SUP] at 0.3" - 0.75" in good conditions. Even in poor seeing, it can deliver up to 90% Strehl Ratio at this wavelength. However, the performance could be further improved by mitigating Non-Common Path Aberrations. Any NCPA remedy must be feasible using only the current hardware: the science camera, the wavefront sensor, and the adaptive secondary mirror. In preliminary testing, we have implemented an "eye doctor" grid search approach for astigmatism and trefoil, achieving 5% improvement in Strehl Ratio at 4 μm, with future plans to test at shorter wavelengths and with more modes. We find evidence of NCPA variability on short timescales and discuss possible upgrades to ameliorate time-variable effects.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Bailey, Vanessa P.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Hinz, Philip M.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Puglisi, Alfio T.; INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri (Italy)
Esposito, Simone; INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri (Italy)
Vaitheeswaran, Vidhya; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Skemer, Andrew J.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Defrere, Denis ; Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astroph. extragalactique et observations spatiales (AEOS)
Vaz, Amali; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Leisenring, Jarron M.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States))
Language :
English
Title :
Large binocular telescope interferometer adaptive optics: on-sky performance and lessons learned
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