Optical design challenges of NFIRAOS, the first-light adaptive optics system for TMT

Jenny Atwood; Peter Byrnes; Glen Herriot; John Pazder; Scott Roberts

doi:10.1117/12.868936

9 September 2010 Optical design challenges of NFIRAOS, the first-light adaptive optics system for TMT

Jenny Atwood, Peter Byrnes, Glen Herriot, John Pazder, Scott Roberts

Proceedings Volume 7652, International Optical Design Conference 2010; 765229 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.868936
Event: International Optical Design Conference 2010, 2010, Jackson Hole, WY, United States

Abstract

NFIRAOS (Narrow Field InfraRed Adaptive Optics System, pronounced nefarious) is the first light adaptive optics system for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). It is a near-IR, diffraction limited, multi-conjugate adaptive optics (MCAO) system that uses two deformable mirrors to correct aberrations due to atmospheric turbulence. The f/15 beam delivered by the telescope, with a two arc-minute field of view, is relayed to one of three client instrument ports. Wavefront sensing is accomplished with six high order sodium laser guide star (LGS) wavefront sensors (WFSs) and three visible natural guide star (NGS) wavefront sensors. Plus, the control system uses two tip/tilt and one focus infrared WFSs located in the instruments. In this paper, we describe several optical design challenges we have faced. The science optics have been redesigned to meet evolving specifications, and the LGS WFS design has undergone multiple iterations. We present an overview of the optical systems and design drivers, including the current state of each design.

Citation Download Citation

Jenny Atwood, Peter Byrnes, Glen Herriot, John Pazder, and Scott Roberts "Optical design challenges of NFIRAOS, the first-light adaptive optics system for TMT", Proc. SPIE 7652, International Optical Design Conference 2010, 765229 (9 September 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.868936

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