FASTTRAC II near-IR adaptive optics system for the Multiple Mirror Telescope: description and preliminary results

Peter M. Gray, Michael Lloyd-Hart, J. Roger P. Angel, Donald W. McCarthy, David G. Sandler, Ty Martinez, Laird M. Close, Guido Brusa, Donald G. Bruns, Brian A. McLeod, Patrick T. Ryan, Todd D. Groesbeck, David M. Wittman, Bruce P. Jacobsen

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

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new adaptive optics system has been constructed for moderately high resolution in the near infrared at the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT). The system, called FASTTRAC II, has been designed to combine the highest throughput with the lowest possible background emission by making the adaptive optical element be an existing and necessary part of the telescope, and by eliminating all warm surfaces between the telescope and the science camera's dewar. At present, only natural guide stars are supported, but by the end of 1995, we will add the capability to use a single sodium resonance beacon derived from a laser beam projected nearly coaxially with the telescope. In this paper, we present a description of FASTTRAC II, and show results from its first test run at the telescope in April 1995.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
EditorsRobert K. Tyson, Robert Q. Fugate
Pages2-16
Number of pages15
StatePublished - 1995
EventAdaptive Optical Systems and Applications - San Diego, CA, USA
Duration: Jul 10 1995Jul 11 1995

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume2534
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherAdaptive Optical Systems and Applications
CitySan Diego, CA, USA
Period7/10/957/11/95

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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