High-power solid-state sodium beacon laser guide star for the Gemini North Observatory

Allen J. Tracy; Allen K. Hankla; Camilo A. Lopez; David C. Sadighi; Nathan Rogers; Ken Groff; Iain T. McKinnie; Céline d’Orgeville

doi:10.1117/12.552121

25 October 2004 High-power solid-state sodium beacon laser guide star for the Gemini North Observatory

Allen J. Tracy, Allen K. Hankla, Camilo A. Lopez, David C. Sadighi, Nathan Rogers, Ken Groff, Iain T. McKinnie, Céline d’Orgeville

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5490, Advancements in Adaptive Optics; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.552121
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2004, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

Coherent Technologies, Inc. (CTI) is developing the first commercial solid-state sodium beacon laser guidestar (LGS): a critical step towards addressing the need of the astronomy adaptive optics (AO) community for a robust turn-key commercial LGS that can be upgraded for different observatory facilities and for different AO formats - including multi-conjugate AO (MCAO) and future extra-large telescopes. The LGS that is currently being developed will be a 14 W single beacon system to be installed on the center section of the Gemini North telescope in Fall 2004. This paper describes the Gemini North LGS requirements, the design of the laser with design trades against other LGS architectures; the functionality of the automated remote laser control system; latest size, weight, power, and performance data; and the current status of the program.

Citation Download Citation

Allen J. Tracy, Allen K. Hankla, Camilo A. Lopez, David C. Sadighi, Nathan Rogers, Ken Groff, Iain T. McKinnie, and Céline d’Orgeville "High-power solid-state sodium beacon laser guide star for the Gemini North Observatory", Proc. SPIE 5490, Advancements in Adaptive Optics, (25 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.552121

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