The Adaptive Optics Point Spread Function from Keck and Gemini

Jack Drummond (Starfire Optical Range, AFRL), Julian Christou (Gemini Observatory), William J. Merline (Southwest Research Institute), Al Conrad (W.M. Keck Observatory), Benoit Carry (Observatoire de Paris-Meudon)

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Abstract:

From analyzing adaptive optics (AO) images of stars obtained at Keck (10 m telescope) and Gemini North (8 m telescope) Observatories, we verify that in general, the AO point spread function (PSF) can be modeled as a Lorentzian or a Lorentzian plus an Airy. However, an additional Gaussian component in the Gemini PSF is associated with an observed degraded AO performance.

Date of Conference: September 1-4. 2009

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