Gemini multiconjugate adaptive optics system review - I. Design, trade-offs and integration

2013140 citationsJournal Articlegreen Open Access

Authors

F. Rigaut · Australian National University

Benoît Neichel · Gemini South Observatory

Maxime Boccas · Gemini South Observatory

Céline d’Orgeville · Australian National University

Fabrice Vidal · Gemini South Observatory

M. A. van Dam · Gemini South Observatory

Gustavo Arriagada

Abstract

The Gemini Multi-conjugate adaptive optics System (GeMS) at the Gemini South telescope in Cerro Pachón is the first sodium-based multi-Laser Guide Star (LGS) adaptive optics system. It uses five LGSs and two deformable mirrors to measure and compensate for atmospheric distortions. The GeMS project started in 1999, and saw first light in 2011. It is now in regular operation, producing images close to the diffraction limit in the near infrared, with uniform quality over a field of view of two square arcminutes. The present paper (I) is the first one in a two-paper review of GeMS. It describes the system, explains why and how it was built, discusses the design choices and trade-offs, and presents the main issues encountered during the course of the project. Finally, we briefly present the results of the system first light.

Topics & Keywords

Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing Optical Systems and Laser Technology Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies

Publication Details

Published in: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Volume 437, Issue 3, pp. 2361-2375

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stt2054

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 12.93

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Gemini multiconjugate adaptive optics system review - I. Design, trade-offs and integration

Authors

Abstract

Topics & Keywords

Publication Details