Dimensioning and performance of an AO system for SALT

L. Catala, M. Carbillet, L. Jolissaint, D. A.H. Buckley, S. M. Crawford, T. Pickering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), located at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) site near Sutherland, South Africa, is an 11-metre fixed-elevation telescope currently operating at UV-visible wavelengths (320-950 nm) with a near-infrared extension (850-1700 nm) due in the near future. SALT does not currently have an adaptive optics (AO) system and a feasibility study for adding one is under way. Using results from an on-going site monitoring campaign at the SAAO we have begun carrying out simulations to investigate how different AO systems might perform and could be optimized for SALT. We will present the parameters of an optimization study and performance results for a single on-axis natural guide star (NGS) AO system on SALT for operation at both visible (R) and near-IR (J and H) wavelengths.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdaptive Optics Systems III
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes
EventAdaptive Optics Systems III - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Duration: Jul 1 2012Jul 6 2012

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8447
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherAdaptive Optics Systems III
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityAmsterdam
Period7/1/127/6/12

Keywords

  • AO modeling
  • PAOLA software
  • Southern African Large Telescope

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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