The path to visible extreme adaptive optics with MagAO-2K and MagAO-X

Jared R. Males, Laird M. Close, Olivier Guyon, Katie M. Morzinski, Philip Hinz, Simone Esposito, Enrico Pinna, Marco Xompero, Runa Briguglio, Armando Riccardi, Alfio Puglisi, Ben Mazin, Michael J. Ireland, Alycia Weinberger, Al Conrad, Matthew Kenworthy, Frans Snik, Gilles Otten, Nemanja Jovanovic, Julien Lozi

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

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

The next generation of extremely large telescopes (ELTs) have the potential to image habitable rocky planets, if suitably optimized. This will require the development of fast high order "extreme" adaptive optics systems for the ELTs. Located near the excellent site of the future GMT, the Magellan AO system (MagAO) is an ideal on-sky testbed for high contrast imaging development. Here we discuss planned upgrades to MagAO. These include improvements in WFS sampling (enabling correction of more modes) and an increase in speed to 2000 Hz, as well as an H2RG detector upgrade for the Clio infrared camera. This NSF funded project, MagAO-2K, is planned to be on-sky in November 2016 and will significantly improve the performance of MagAO at short wavelengths. Finally, we describe MagAO-X, a visible-wavelength extreme-AO "afterburner" system under development. MagAO-X will deliver Strehl ratios of over 80% in the optical and is optimized for visible light coronagraphy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdaptive Optics Systems V
EditorsEnrico Marchetti, Jean-Pierre Veran, Laird M. Close
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510601970
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
EventAdaptive Optics Systems V - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Duration: Jun 26 2016Jul 1 2016

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9909
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherAdaptive Optics Systems V
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityEdinburgh
Period6/26/167/1/16

Keywords

  • Adaptive optics
  • Exoplanets
  • High contrast imaging

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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