Improving stability, robustness, and performance of laser systems

Andres Guesalaga; Benoit Neichel; Maxime Boccas; Celine D'Orgeville; Francois Rigaut; Dani Guzman; Jaime Anguita

doi:10.1117/12.924908

13 September 2012 Improving stability, robustness, and performance of laser systems

Andres Guesalaga, Benoit Neichel, Maxime Boccas, Celine D'Orgeville, Francois Rigaut, Dani Guzman, Jaime Anguita

Proceedings Volume 8447, Adaptive Optics Systems III; 84474M (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924908
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The vast majority of large telescopes are now equipped with Adaptive Optics (AO) systems, and many use lasers to create artificial stars (laser guide stars, LGS). Despite the significant advances in the use of LGS for AO, some problems persist during the operations. In particular, achieving a satisfactory performance in terms of on-sky laser power and beam quality usually requires frequent and complex alignments of the laser system, beam transfer optics and launch telescope. To provide easier calibrations and faster pre-setting of the LGS facility during routine operations, we propose the introduction of active elements (deformable mirrors) in the laser beam before it is propagated to the sky. The paper studies an AO configuration with two deformable mirrors to correct for quasi-static and dynamic aberrations. The problem of determining the correction phases to apply to the deformable mirrors is particularly challenging due to the highly nonlinear problem and the possible appearance of branch points. We propose an iterative method based on a phase retrieval algorithm that uses a weighted least squares unwrapper to avoid branch points. Simulations are performed aiming to a future implementation in the Gemini Multi-conjugate-adaptive-optics System (GeMS). Results show that the technique is accurate and robust, with a reasonable convergence speed.

Citation Download Citation

Andres Guesalaga, Benoit Neichel, Maxime Boccas, Celine D'Orgeville, Francois Rigaut, Dani Guzman, and Jaime Anguita "Improving stability, robustness, and performance of laser systems", Proc. SPIE 8447, Adaptive Optics Systems III, 84474M (13 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924908

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available