LGS Project Meeting

1. LGS Project Meeting November 9, 2006

2. Outline • Project infrastructure • PALM-3000 update • LGS subsystem updates • Optical bench • LGS facility • AO software • CfAO retreat talks • LGS calendar

3. LGS project infrastructure • COO Twiki site is running smoothly again: http://www.oir.caltech.edu/twiki_oir/bin/view.cgi/Palomar/PalmLGS • AO lab at Palomar has been been cleaned up, and outfitted with new cabinets and tools. Tool cabinet will be locked. Optics and optomechanics will be available to all with a check-out system. • AO lab at JPL has been similarly outfitted.

4. PALM-3000 update • PALM-3000 kickoff meeting was held on Nov. 1-3. • Rich and Mitch are leading the project. • Primary activity this fiscal year is: • Requirements definition. • LOWFS development. • Wavefront processor development. • Re-layout of the AO relay for SWIFT (design only).

5. AO Bench Opto-mechanics • The MGSU has been removed • For the December run • Dichroic • Realign after MGSU removal • LOWFS • Mount and realign LOWFS to the bench rather than the MGSU • Potentially change orientation to stay within the area of the bench and allow full range of motion • Add focus/z adjustment • Acquisition Camera • Mount and realign the field lens to the bench rather than the MGSU • For January • Dichroic • Separate reflecting spot and dichroic capabilities into 2 optics • Use a motorized stage to switch between the two optics • Optics will have adjustments for x and y tilt and translation • LOWFS • Testing to determine the cause of the observed loss of light in the LOWFS path • Acquisition Camera • Mounting acquisition optics on a single plate for ease of realignment • Potentially obtain a new acquisition camera to increase the FOV • Requirement: Camera can be controlled via the current setup in the AO system

6. Laser characterization and power improvements • Laser power during Oct. engineering run was 4.2-5.5 W (down ~1 W after installation of the optical isolator). • Renu has been researching clean room facilities and the laser optical design. • Potential power improvements: • Replace 1.32 µm laser intracavity NLX (Renu: next few weeks). • Measure laser bandwidth and pulse length (Ed, Renu: Dec. 3-7). • Replace laser heads with Mach 3 design (Ed, Renu: Dec. 8-11). • Clean laser optics (Renu: Jan-Feb?).

7. Laser automation • Thermal control of 6 optics (4 TEC and 2 heaters) has been implemented and tested. More channels may be needed. • Micropulse phasing lock implemented in hardware and tested during October engineering run. • New sodium cell components have been ordered, and will be assembled and tested next week (Renu, Chris: Nov. 13-15). • LGS computer functionality is being defined: • Temperature control: enable/disable, display and log temps. • Frequency lock: enable/disable, scan, offload to etalon temp. • Power diagnostics: display and log 8 avg. power at ~10 Hz. • Video diagnostics: log 6 channels at ~1 Hz, display 4 at 30 Hz. • Program delay generator. • Provide operator GUI (display data from database)

8. Laser diagnostics and LLT • Coude and Prime Focus diagnostics benches have been installed, with preliminary tests during Oct. engineering run. • Goal is to finalize the diagnostics bench optical layouts, and camera and photodiode calibration by the December run. • LLT modification plans for December run include a new “flip-out” mount for the LLT lens, better alignment tools, and a modified mirror cover (Hal). • We decided against testing full LLT+PF bench in the Coude lab. Instead, PF bench will be tested alone (Anna, Antonin, Renu: 27-29 Nov.).

9. Laser safety systems • Communication/privilege problem between ASCAM and interlock system has been solved. • IRCAM detection threshold has been reduced to eliminate false positives. • Both cameras are ready to go “live” (run via VNC) for the Dec. engineering run. • Main task ahead: Develop a test plan for camera sensitivity verification (Cromer, Bouchez).

10. AO Software • System Start-up • AO start-up problem (TT) • AO version switching (TT) • AOCP (JA) • white light power save/restore (completed) • white light command bug • ASCII save/restore • Wavefront Processing (HWFP/LWFP) (TNT/CS) • Add new centroiding capabilities to the LWFP • Modifications to use of centroid offsets • Telemetry Subsystem (SG) • Add message IDs to "late message" warnings • BTO/aodr data recording "late message" error • Condense repeated "late message" of the same kind • External Interface • BTO I/F • TCS raw angle data to BTO (completed) • Receive BTO status data • PHARO I/F • Update I/F document for PHARO (SWIFT) • take_image command/data (completed) • reset_foi command • Control • Display both NGS/LGS status • Display BTO status

11. AO User Interface • Proposed Changes to the NGS GUI – December ‘06 • Adjusting the time to take a sky based on the framerate • Replacing slider in servo loop GUI with a text input box • GUI will show current values (servo loops, etc) • Method to load tables from the GUI • Default log rates set based on frame rate • GUI for choosing log rate and data types • Proposed Additions and Changes for an LGS GUI – February ‘07 * This list is in process * • Separate mode/GUI from NGS • Additional buttons for new servo loops (UTT, LOWFS focus) • WFS camera settings (HOWFS and LOWFS) accessible from a single GUI panel • All servo loop parameters accessible from a single GUI panel • Additional status displays for LOWFS, LGS loops, BTO

12. CFAO Retreat • Palomar Talks Friday • Antonin Bouchez, Laser Guidestar Results • Jenny Roberts, NGS Low Order Wavefront Sensor • Sidd Bikkannavar, Phase Retrieval Results at Palomar • Chris Shelton, Optimal Faint-Object AO Saturday • Gene Serabyn, ExAO and the Palomar well-corrected subaperture • Other Projects • Kent Wallace, Calibration system testbed • Ian Crossfield, ExAO contrast on segmented telescopes • Poster • Chris Shelton, Atmospheric Dispersion Correctors for Extreme AO

13. LGS Calendar

14. LGS Calendar

15. LGS Calendar