Commissioning results from the Robo-AO-2 facility for rapid visible and near-infrared AO imaging

2024/06/30 by Baranec, Christoph, Ou, James, Riddle, Reed +16
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing #Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation #FOS: Physical sciences #Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM) #Optical Wireless Communication Technologies

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2407.00582

openalex publication_date 2024/06/30 · openalex created_date 2024/07/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

We installed the next-generation automated laser adaptive optics system, Robo-AO-2, on the University of Hawaii 2.2-m telescope on Maunakea in 2023. We engineered Robo-AO-2 to deliver robotic, diffraction-limited observations at visible and near-infrared wavelengths in unprecedented numbers. This new instrument takes advantage of upgraded components, manufacturing techniques and control; and includes a parallel reconfigurable natural guide star wavefront sensor with which to explore hybrid wavefront sensing techniques. We present the results of commissioning in 2023 and 2024.

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