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The Future of AO at Keck

Join the AOWG meeting to discuss the future of AO at Keck Observatory. Explore potential AO systems, instruments, and strategic plans for optimization. Your input shapes the direction of AO technology development.

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The Future of AO at Keck

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  1. The Future of AO at Keck Sept 2004 Mike Brown, for the AOWG and Keck AO team

  2. Your friendly AOWG • Mike Brown, Mark Colavita, Rich Dekany, Andrea Ghez, James Larkin, Mike Liu, Bruce MacIntosh, Keith Matthews, Claire Max, Mitch Troy • Talk to us about all of your AO needs, concerns, hopes, and fears • Completely unrelated reminder: LGS is not a bright time instrument

  3. From current strategic plan… • 20 yr plan “all AO all the time” • Specific: “diffraction limited from 400nm to 10 um with Strehl>0.6 a significant fraction of the time on both telescopes” • Vague: Field-of-view? Resolution? Instrumentation? Observing modes? Science drivers? • Much to still be figured out!

  4. The landscape of potential AO systems • Wide-field high angular resolution (MCAO, MOAO) • Wide field moderate angular resolution (GLAO) • Extremely high-contrast (bright objects only) • Extremely high Strehl (all sky/ single objects) • Low emissivity (thermal IR) • IR WFS/TTS

  5. The landscape of potential AO instruments 5 4 3 2 1 0 log R .1 1 10 20 wavelength

  6. The landscape of potential AO instruments 5 4 3 2 1 0 log R Field size, # units .1 1 10 20 wavelength

  7. The AOWG strategic plan • Strategic planning meeting, Fall 2002 • Main ~7 yr recommendations: • Optimize current NGS+LGS AO • Develop high-precision AO • Deploy high-contrast AO system

  8. Optimize current NGS+LGS AO • $2M Keck foundation grant to implement new WFC • Currently underway • Will increase Strehl on NGS targets and allow fainter NGS • Should increase Strehl for LGS targets

  9. Keck precision adaptive optics(KPAO) • AOWG vision is that high Strehl, single-object, AO will be the most important competitive point for Keck AO in the next decade • Currently envisioned as multi-laser, single (?)-DM AO system deployed in front of OSIRIS, capable of extending correction to visible • Will deliver 120 nm wavefront error (same as spec for TMT), which gives Strehl ~ 0.9 at K • Expected [hoped] to be funded entirely externally

  10. High contrast imager(XAOPI) • Extremely high Strehl and contrast imaging system for bright (I<8) targets • Capable of finding large distinct population of warm outer exoplanets • Philosphical shift from [allegedly] general purpose instruments, potentially different funding strategy

  11. Currently in process Funded! Underway Planned forFY04/05 Slipped! Should start in earnest with C. Neyman devoted full-time to project NSF-funded laser K1 14 more years to go to reach “all AO all the time”

  12. A new model for funding of instrument development • If large facility class instruments are scientifically important and exciting, they could be among the first things to capture external funding (NSF laser, NIRES, WFC upgrade) • Future AO instrument development is envisioned to operate largely on external [non-Keck, non-TSIP] funds with help of UC & Caltech development offices • Perhaps a healthy alternative to TSIP for all major instrument development

  13. What I want from you[yes you] • AOWG is meeting tomorrow to refine strategic plans • Your input matters in deciding which areas will be pursued • Talk to your favorite AOWG member. Soon.

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