ALFA laser guide star: present status and future developments

Sebastian Rabien; Richard I. Davies; Thomas Ott; David James Butler

doi:10.1117/12.390398

7 July 2000 ALFA laser guide star: present status and future developments

Sebastian Rabien, Richard I. Davies, Thomas Ott, David James Butler

Proceedings Volume 4007, Adaptive Optical Systems Technology; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.390398
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2000, Munich, Germany

Abstract

ALFA (Adaptive Optics with Laser for Astronomy) is a joint project between the Max Planck Institut fur extraterrestrische Physik in Garching and the Max Planck Institut fur Astronomie in Heidelberg. To increase the sky coverage of the adaptive optics system, we are using a laser guide star that is created in the sodium layer of the earth atmosphere. The laser consists of a 5W cw dye laser, operated at single frequency and tuned to the sodium D₂ resonance transition. Here we report on the present status of the laser system, the technological means to ensure an easy operation of the laser guide star, as well as on developments we are planning for the future.

Citation Download Citation

Sebastian Rabien, Richard I. Davies, Thomas Ott, and David James Butler "ALFA laser guide star: present status and future developments", Proc. SPIE 4007, Adaptive Optical Systems Technology, (7 July 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.390398

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