instruments update
DESCRIPTION
Instruments update. A. Bouchez Team Meeting #9 22 Oct. 2008. Project 1640. Credit: Ben Oppenheimer. Successful commissioning July 8-10. First science run Oct. 19-24. Working : Coronagraph Integral field spectrograph Instrument control software & GUI Not yet working: - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
PALM-3000
Instruments update
A. Bouchez
Team Meeting #9
22 Oct. 2008
PALM-3000
• Successful commissioning July 8-10.
• First science run Oct. 19-24.
• Working:– Coronagraph– Integral field spectrograph– Instrument control software & GUI
• Not yet working:– Internal tip/tilt system– Pupil imaging system– Communications with AO– Quick-look image reconstruction
Ras Al'Hague7/10/08 UT
1.3 µm 1.7 µm
Project 1640Credit: Ben Oppenheimer
PALM-3000
• First commissioning run Oct 10-13, in terrible weather.
• Several science targets observed (seeing-limited).
• Working:– Pre-optics (240/160) & slicer– Quick-look image
reconstruction– Communications with AO
• Not yet working:– Spectrograph cameras.– Detector read noise (~12 e-)– 80 mas preoptics– Camera control GUI
• Upcoming observing runs– Dec. 10-13 (NGS/LGS)– Jan. 11-14 (NGS/LGS)
SWIFT
Credit: Scott Kardel
PALM-3000
• Work on laser at U. Chicago this spring improved safety and reliability. However, some laser automations lost (phase & frequency servo loops).
• Replaced LLT secondary: Improved wavefront quality to ~0.8” FWHM.
• So far this semester:– 6 nights engineering
LGS FHWM >1.5”, up to 53% K Strehl– 7 nights science
Good performance (in above-average conditions) and 33% open-shutter efficiency.
• Remaining:– Dec. 10-11 SWIFT-LGS commissioning– Jan. 9-12, 15-16 SWIFT and PHARO LGS
science.
• No LGS offered in semester 2009A.
Laser Guidestar update
Old Mangin secondary
µm
New Cassegrain secondary
µm
PALM-3000
Stellar “interloper”IRAS 18555+0056
PI: R. Sahai
LGS-AO 1.64/2.15 µm
PHARO-LGS results
PALM-3000
64”x64” mosaic of globular cluster M15, taken on 14 Aug. 2008 using the Palomar Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics system. The inset shows a 10x10” zoom towards the core of the cluster. M15 has a graviationally collapsed core, with some of the highest stellar densities found in our galaxy.
Filter: Ks (1.99-2.30 µm)Integration: 7 s in each of 5 pointings.Laser power: 7.1 W
PHARO-LGS results
PALM-3000Summary
• Palomar AO system now has 4 instruments (PHARO, Project 1640, SWIFT, Fiber Nuller), plus the Well-Corrected Subaperture front-end and LGS facility.
• SWIFT/P1640 mechanical interface to AO system has proven difficult to use. May have to look into alternatives for PALM-3000.
• One consequence of additional instruments: Increased demand for AO and less time in the lab.