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Instruments update

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:

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Instruments update

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  1. Instruments update A. Bouchez Team Meeting #9 22 Oct. 2008

  2. 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: • Internal tip/tilt system • Pupil imaging system • Communications with AO • Quick-look image reconstruction Ras Al'Hague 7/10/08 UT 1.3 µm 1.7 µm

  3. SWIFT • 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) Credit: Scott Kardel

  4. Old Mangin secondary µm New Cassegrain secondary µm Laser Guidestar update • 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.

  5. PHARO-LGS results Stellar “interloper” IRAS 18555+0056 PI: R. Sahai LGS-AO 1.64/2.15 µm

  6. PHARO-LGS results 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

  7. Summary • 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.

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