LGS Project MeetingDecember 21, 2006

Agenda1. SWIFT update - A. Bouchez

2. Laser facility status - A. Bouchez

3. AO bench plans - J. Roberts

4. LGS user interface - J. Roberts

5. FlexCam: A method for sensing non-common path pointing errors on PalAO - K. Wallace

2

SWIFT Optical Design

http://www.astro.caltech.edu/oir/swift/

3

SWIFT Mechanical Design

4

SWIFT mounting to AO bench

• SWIFT optical bench mounts ot AO bench using 3 permanently located conical mounting points. Clamp mechanism is captive to SWIFT bench.

• Mounting scheme for PHARO FM3 still unresolved.

5

SWIFT handling cart

• Allows work on instrument with optics up and mounting to AO bench on AO spit and at on telescope (Cass ring at 155º).

• Now provides 1 cm fine position and tilt adjustment using mechanism below.

6

Review panel recommendations

• Arrival at Palomar should be delayed 2-3 months (to May-June 2008) to allow more thorough integration and testing.

• I & T schedule needs to be more clearly defined.• More resources should be devoted to software

development.• Operational modes and calibrations need to be

defined.

7

SWIFT tasks for Palomar and AO group

• Clarify mass limit. SWIFT currently estimated to be 220 kg + cables. Determine if AO bench can support weight.

• Provide non-common path flexure data to SWIFT team. Determine if we can mitigate before SWIFT arrival.

• Plan mounting scheme and purchase of new science dichroic.• Determine strategy regarding SWIFT shutter.• Layout AO relay (& PHARO) to provide focus at new location.• Recoat relay optics (OAPs and flats).• Design new mounting scheme for PHARO FM3.• Implement required changes to AO stimulus.• Build new enclosure.• Consider implications of SWIFT on NGS/LGS acquisition software

and procedures.

8

AO 5-year plan

9

Laser facility statusLaser is in good shape for January observing run.

Power and wavefront quality• Replace both laser heads with Mach-3 design (Jan. 10-17)• Replace sum-frequency and intra-cavity crystals.• Document laser optical design.• Characterize delivered wavefront quality.• Characterize bandwidth and pulse shape.

Reliability and automation• Improved cleanliness (clean-room enclosure, clean optics).• Improved temperature control of bench (insulation, etalon control).• Phased implementation of LGS computer:

• Temperature display and control.• Frequency dither loop control. • Power display and logging.• Image display and logging.• Program delay generator.

Operations• Document operations procedures

10

AO Bench Opto-mechanics

• Current plans for January/February– Dichroic

• Separate reflecting spot and dichroic capabilities into 2 optics• Use a motorized stage to switch between the two optics

– LOWFS• Testing to determine the cause of the observed loss of light

in the LOWFS path

• Future Plans– Re-layout LOWFS and acqusition camera in order to

put the LOWFS directly in the beam path and remove the pick off requirement

11

New Dichroic Layout

– Dichroic• Separate reflecting spot and dichroic capabilities into 2 optics• Use a motorized stage to switch between the two optics

– LOWFS• Testing to determine the cause of the observed loss of light in the

LOWFS path

12

AO Software

• Build for January includes bug fixes and previously tested code only– aodr bug fix for recording BTO data– Ability to turn off late message warnings in aodr (now

the default)– Remove debug print in aocp when doing a restore– AO software version switching

• New user interface to be implemented for February run– Includes NGS improvements and new mode structure

for LGS

13

New LGS User Interface

Mode

NGS LGS Dual NGS

TT loop (HOWFS LO) ON/OFF

DM loop (HOWFS HO) ON/OFF

Acquire Source

WFS Camera Settings

WFS Sky

Set Servo Gains

Register DM

HOWFS HO loop On/Off

HOWFS LO loop On/Off

LOWFS LO loop On/Off

LOWFS HO loop On/Off

Acquire Source

WFS Camera Settings

WFS Sky

Set servo gains

Register DM

LOWFS HO loop On/Off

HOWFS HO loop On/Off

Acquire Source

WFS Camera Settings

WFS Sky

Set servo gains

Register DM

Select Source

Select Source

Select Source

GUI Functionality

Full document located at http://www.oir.caltech.edu/twiki_oir/bin/view.cgi/Palomar/PalmLGS/WebHome

under Technical Reference (until there’s an AO software page)