LGS Project Meeting

1
LGS Project Meeting

• December 21, 2006

• Agenda
• SWIFT update - A. Bouchez
• Laser facility status - A. Bouchez
• AO bench plans - J. Roberts
• LGS user interface - J. Roberts
• 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 status

• Laser 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
GUI Functionality

• Full document located at http//www.oir.caltech.ed
  u/twiki_oir/bin/view.cgi/Palomar/PalmLGS/WebHome
• under Technical Reference (until theres an AO
  software page)