PALM-3000

Instruments update

A. Bouchez

Team Meeting #9

22 Oct. 2008

PALM-3000

• Successful commissioning July 8-10.

• First science run Oct. 19-24.

• Working:– Coronagraph– Integral field spectrograph– Instrument control software & GUI

• Not yet working:– Internal tip/tilt system– Pupil imaging system– Communications with AO– Quick-look image reconstruction

Ras Al'Hague7/10/08 UT

1.3 µm 1.7 µm

Project 1640Credit: Ben Oppenheimer

PALM-3000

• First commissioning run Oct 10-13, in terrible weather.

• Several science targets observed (seeing-limited).

• Working:– Pre-optics (240/160) & slicer– Quick-look image

reconstruction– Communications with AO

• Not yet working:– Spectrograph cameras.– Detector read noise (~12 e-)– 80 mas preoptics– Camera control GUI

• Upcoming observing runs– Dec. 10-13 (NGS/LGS)– Jan. 11-14 (NGS/LGS)

SWIFT

Credit: Scott Kardel

PALM-3000

• Work on laser at U. Chicago this spring improved safety and reliability. However, some laser automations lost (phase & frequency servo loops).

• Replaced LLT secondary: Improved wavefront quality to ~0.8” FWHM.

• So far this semester:– 6 nights engineering

LGS FHWM >1.5”, up to 53% K Strehl– 7 nights science

Good performance (in above-average conditions) and 33% open-shutter efficiency.

• Remaining:– Dec. 10-11 SWIFT-LGS commissioning– Jan. 9-12, 15-16 SWIFT and PHARO LGS

science.

• No LGS offered in semester 2009A.

Laser Guidestar update

Old Mangin secondary

µm

New Cassegrain secondary

µm

PALM-3000

Stellar “interloper”IRAS 18555+0056

PI: R. Sahai

LGS-AO 1.64/2.15 µm

PHARO-LGS results

PALM-3000

64”x64” mosaic of globular cluster M15, taken on 14 Aug. 2008 using the Palomar Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics system. The inset shows a 10x10” zoom towards the core of the cluster. M15 has a graviationally collapsed core, with some of the highest stellar densities found in our galaxy.

Filter: Ks (1.99-2.30 µm)Integration: 7 s in each of 5 pointings.Laser power: 7.1 W

PHARO-LGS results

PALM-3000Summary

• Palomar AO system now has 4 instruments (PHARO, Project 1640, SWIFT, Fiber Nuller), plus the Well-Corrected Subaperture front-end and LGS facility.

• SWIFT/P1640 mechanical interface to AO system has proven difficult to use. May have to look into alternatives for PALM-3000.

• One consequence of additional instruments: Increased demand for AO and less time in the lab.