Sodium laser guide star system of ALFA

Andreas Quirrenbach; Wolfgang K. P. Hackenberg; Hans-Christoph Holstenberg; Norbert Wilnhammer

doi:10.1117/12.279051

17 October 1997 Sodium laser guide star system of ALFA

Andreas Quirrenbach, Wolfgang K. P. Hackenberg, Hans-Christoph Holstenberg, Norbert Wilnhammer

Proceedings Volume 3126, Adaptive Optics and Applications; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.279051
Event: Optical Science, Engineering and Instrumentation '97, 1997, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

ALFA is an adaptive optics system with laser guide star for the 3.5 m telescope on Calar Alto, Spain. ALFA has been developed jointly by the Max-Planck-Institutes for Astronomy (MPIA, Heidelberg) and for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE, Garching). All core components of ALFA were installed at the telescope in the course of 1996; the system is currently undergoing integration and testing. ALFA uses a continuous-wave dye laser pumped by an argon ion laser to create an artificial guide star in the mesospheric sodium layer. The laser is stabilized to the sodium D2 line at 589 nm with a sodium vapor cell. In normal operation the frequency is locked to the Lamb dip in the absorption cell, but it is also possible to scan the laser under computer control over several GHz for diagnostic purposes. The dye laser has been optimized for stable operation at high power output; 3.75 W are regularly achieved in single-mode operation. The laser system is located in the coud? room of the telescope; the laser beam is transmitted through the coud? path to a 50 cm beam expansion telescope attached to the mirror cell of the 3.5 m telescope. The first measurements of the sodium spot created with the ALFA laser were made in 1996 with the guide camera of the 3.5 m telescope and with a 1.23m telescope located 276m away.

Citation Download Citation

Andreas Quirrenbach, Wolfgang K. P. Hackenberg, Hans-Christoph Holstenberg, and Norbert Wilnhammer "Sodium laser guide star system of ALFA", Proc. SPIE 3126, Adaptive Optics and Applications, (17 October 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.279051

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