High resolution near-infrared imaging with tip-tilt adaptive optics.
Author
Close, Laird Miller.Issue Date
1995Committee Chair
McCarthy, Donald W.
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The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
The development and design of the first operational tip-tilt Cassegrain secondary mirror are presented. This system, F ASTTRAC, samples image motion at up to 50 Hz by tracking either infrared (m(K)≤11) or visible (m(R)≤16) guide stars up to 30" and 90" away from the science target respectively. The Steward Observatory 2Jm or 1.5m telescope secondaries act as rapid tip-tilt mirrors to stabilize image motion (≤0.1" rms; ∼5 Hz -3 dB frequency) based on the motion of the guide star. F ASTTRAC obtains nearly diffraction-limited resolutions in seeing conditions where D/r₀<4 in agreement with theoretical expectations. FASTTRAC's unique ability to guide on infrared stars has allowed the first adaptively corrected images of the heavily extincted Galactic Center to be obtained. Over a hundred excellent (0.28"Type
textDissertation-Reproduction (electronic)
Degree Name
Ph.D.Degree Level
doctoralDegree Program
AstronomyGraduate College