Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics for Astronomy

Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics for Astronomy PDF Author: N. Ageorges
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401596247
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 362

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Book Description
Adaptive optics allows the theoretical limit of angular resolution to be achieved from a large telescope, despite the presence of turbulence. Thus an eight meter class telescope, such as one of the four in the Very Large Telescope operated by ESO in Chile, will in future be routinely capable of an angular resolution of almost 0.01 arcsec, compared tot he present resolution of about 0.5 arcsec for conventional imaging in good condition. All the world's major telescopes either have adaptive optics or are in the process of building AO systems. It turns out that a reasonable fraction of the sky can be observed using adaptive optics, with moderately good imaging quality, provided imaging in done in the near IR. To move out of the near IR, with its relatively poor angular resolution, astronomers need a laser guide star. There is a layer of Na atoms at approximately 90 km altitude that can be excited by a laser to produce such a source, or Rayleigh scattering can be employed lower in the atmosphere. But the production and use of laser guide stars is not trivial, and the key issues determining their successful implementation are discussed here, including the physics of the Na atom, the cone effect, tilt determination, sky coverage, and numerous potential astronomical applications.

Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics for Astronomy

Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics for Astronomy PDF Author: N. Ageorges
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401596247
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 362

Get Book Here

Book Description
Adaptive optics allows the theoretical limit of angular resolution to be achieved from a large telescope, despite the presence of turbulence. Thus an eight meter class telescope, such as one of the four in the Very Large Telescope operated by ESO in Chile, will in future be routinely capable of an angular resolution of almost 0.01 arcsec, compared tot he present resolution of about 0.5 arcsec for conventional imaging in good condition. All the world's major telescopes either have adaptive optics or are in the process of building AO systems. It turns out that a reasonable fraction of the sky can be observed using adaptive optics, with moderately good imaging quality, provided imaging in done in the near IR. To move out of the near IR, with its relatively poor angular resolution, astronomers need a laser guide star. There is a layer of Na atoms at approximately 90 km altitude that can be excited by a laser to produce such a source, or Rayleigh scattering can be employed lower in the atmosphere. But the production and use of laser guide stars is not trivial, and the key issues determining their successful implementation are discussed here, including the physics of the Na atom, the cone effect, tilt determination, sky coverage, and numerous potential astronomical applications.

Adaptive Optics in Astronomy

Adaptive Optics in Astronomy PDF Author: François Roddier
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 052155375X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 421

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Book Description
Adaptive optics is set to revolutionise the future of astronomy; this is the first book on the subject and is set to become the standard reference.

Astronomical Optics

Astronomical Optics PDF Author: Daniel J. Schroeder
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 032313856X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 367

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Book Description
Written by a recognized expert in the field, this clearly presented, well-illustrated book provides both advanced level students and professionals with an authoritative, thorough presentation of the characteristics, including advantages and limitations, of telescopes and spectrographic instruments used by astronomers of today. - Written by a recognized expert in the field - Provides both advanced level students and professionals with an authoritative, thorough presentation of the characteristics, including advantages and limitations, of telescopes and spectrographic instruments used by astronomers of today

Introduction to Adaptive Optics

Introduction to Adaptive Optics PDF Author: Robert K. Tyson
Publisher: SPIE Press
ISBN: 9780819435118
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
Adaptive optics systems and components have achieved a level of sophistication and simplicity that goes beyond traditional applications in astronomy and the military and into developments in medicine, manufacturing, and communications. This book was written for those interested in the multidisciplinary technology and those who need a broad-brush explanation without wading through thousands of journal articles. It follows the structure of a one-day tutorial taught by the author, including humor and sidebars of historical material.

Adaptive Optics for Astronomical Telescopes

Adaptive Optics for Astronomical Telescopes PDF Author: John W. Hardy
Publisher: Oxford Optical and Imaging Sci
ISBN: 9780195090192
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 452

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Book Description
This book by one of the leaders in adaptive optics covers the fundamental theory and then describes in detail how this technology can be applied to large ground-based telescopes to compensate for the effects of atmospheric turbulence. It includes information on basic adaptive optics components and technology, and has chapters devoted to atmospheric turbulence, optical image structure, laser beacons, and overall system design. The chapter on system design is particularly detailed and includes performance estimation and optimization. Combining a clear discussion of physical principles with numerous real-world examples, this book will be a valuable resource for all graduate students and researchers in astronomy and optics.

Electronic Imaging in Astronomy

Electronic Imaging in Astronomy PDF Author: Ian S. McLean
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3540765832
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 576

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Book Description
The second edition of Electronic Imaging in Astronomy: Detectors and Instrumentation describes the remarkable developments that have taken place in astronomical detectors and instrumentation in recent years – from the invention of the charge-coupled device (CCD) in 1970 to the current era of very large telescopes, such as the Keck 10-meter telescopes in Hawaii with their laser guide-star adaptive optics which rival the image quality of the Hubble Space Telescope. Authored by one of the world’s foremost experts on the design and development of electronic imaging systems for astronomy, this book has been written on several levels to appeal to a broad readership. Mathematical expositions are designed to encourage a wider audience, especially among the growing community of amateur astronomers with small telescopes with CCD cameras. The book can be used at the college level for an introductory course on modern astronomical detectors and instruments, and as a supplement for a practical or laboratory class.

Atomic and Laser Spectroscopy

Atomic and Laser Spectroscopy PDF Author: Alan Corney
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199211450
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 782

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Book Description
This book discusses many advances in optical physics and is intended mainly for experimentalists. The interaction of electromagnetic radiation with free atoms is introduced using classical or semi-classical calculations wherever possible. Topics discussed include the spontaneous emission of radiation, and atomic beam magnetic resonance experiments.

Diffraction-Limited Imaging with Large and Moderate Telescopes

Diffraction-Limited Imaging with Large and Moderate Telescopes PDF Author: Swapan K. Saha
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 981270888X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 633

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Book Description
This book deals with the fundamentals of wave optics, polarization, interference, diffraction, imaging, and the origin, properties, and optical effects of turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. Techniques developed during the last few decades to overcome atmospheric image degradation (including passive methods, speckle interferometry in particular, and active methods such as adaptive optics), are highlighted. Also discussed are high resolution sensors, image processing, and the astronomical results obtained with these techniques.

Astrophotonics

Astrophotonics PDF Author: Stefano Minardi
Publisher: VCH
ISBN: 9783527411108
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 350

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Book Description
Written by well-known scientists in the field with vast experience in teaching astrophotonics, this is the first book to bridge astronomy and photonics for the benefit of developing new astronomical instrumentation. The textbook is clearly structured and covers four main methods relevant to observational astronomy: adaptive optics, photometry, interferometry and spectroscopy. It follows a progressive didactical path in photonics, starting from fundamentals of wave- and micro-optics and developing step-by-step the formalisms required for the treatment of optical multilayers, fiber optics and diffraction/holographic gratings. This approach allows students with a physics/engineering background to learn about the problematic of observational astronomy, while, conversely, students of astronomy are exposed to topics in modern photonics. Each chapter is divided into three main sections devoted to the discussion of astronomical concepts required to size an instrument designed for the particular method, the photonic concepts that most suit that instrument, and an analysis of existing, related photonic instruments. A set of exercises and a bibliography complete each chapter. Appendices include a short review of fundamentals of wave optics and photon detectors, plus an overview of project design and management using a real-life example of an astronomical instrumentation project. With its review of the latest instrumentation and techniques, this is invaluable for graduate and post-graduate students in astronomy, physics and optical engineering.

A Question and Answer Guide to Astronomy

A Question and Answer Guide to Astronomy PDF Author: Pierre-Yves Bely
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 131661526X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 361

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Book Description
Contains 250 questions and answers about astronomy, particular for the amateur astronomer.