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Program Leader
Jean-Pierre Véran
Phone: 250-363-0014
Fax: 250-363-0045
Email: Jean-Pierre.Veran@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Business Contacts
Garry Sedun
Phone: 250-363-8765
Fax: 250-363-0045
Email: Garry.Sedun@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Kerry Seifried
Phone: 250-363-6923
Fax: 250-363-0045
Email: Kerry.Seifried@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Adaptive Optics (AO)
Overview
This composite image exemplifies the ability of adaptive optics to unveil an unprecedented level of details in astronomical images. It shows a small section of the core of the globular cluster M-13 as imaged by the Altair adaptive optics system on Gemini North (upper blue inset; 0.060 arcsecond resolution). Beneath the Altair image is an uncorrected "natural seeing" image (0.26 arcsecond resolution). Wide-field background image courtesy of the Canada-France-Hawai`i Telescope/Coelum/Jean-Charles Cuillandre.
The focus of the AO research and development efforts is on the modelling, design, integration, testing and commissioning of state-of-the art AO systems for ground-based telescopes.
Research activities & projects
We have been involved in several major instrumentation projects for the 3.6-metre Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), the Gemini Observatory's 8-metre telescopes and the future Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). These projects involve close collaborations with international partners.
Current projects
Gemini Next Generation Instruments
- GPI (Gemini Planet Imager), previously called Extreme AO Coronograph (ExAOC)
Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Instruments
- NFIRAOS (Narrow Field InfraRed AO System), the first light facility Laser Guide System AO system. This is a collaboration between NRC-HIA and the TMT project office. A conceptual design is currently underway.
Current Research & Development
- VOLT (Victoria Open Loop Testbed), demonstrates open loop control in the lab and on-sky (at the DAO 1.2m telescope) using a simple on-axis natural guide star AO testbed.
Feasibility studies
- Ground Layer Adaptive Optics (GLAO)
- IRMOS-MOAO (Infra-Red Multi-Object Spectrograph-Multi-Object AO), a deployable IFU spectrograph over a wide-field, where each IFU is fed by an AO-corrected beam.
- WFOS-GLAO (Wide-Field Optical Spectrograph - Ground Layer AO), a multi-object spectrograph at visible wavelengths, possibly fed by a ground-layer AO system. A feasibility study is currently underway at NRC-HIA.
Past projects
ATRG-V AO staff are actively pursuing cutting-edge astronomical research and are experienced AO observers, frequently in collaboration with the rest of HIA's scientific staff. This gives us a unique understanding of the astronomers' needs and allows us to design versatile and scientifically successful systems.
AO Coffee discussions are held weekly to keep abreast of each other's work and analyze the latest developments in the AO field.
Partnering Opportunities
AO staff can provide scientific and technical support for all levels of AO related analysis and design studies. We are especially interested in expanding our expertise to non-astronomical applications of AO, such as medical imaging and telecommunications.
Related Links
Links in this section lead to sites belonging to entities not subject to the Official Languages Act. Information on such a site is available in the language of the site.
Les liens dans cette section conduisent aux sites d'entités non assujetties à la Loi sur les langues officielles. L'information sur un tel site est disponible dans la langue du site.
University of Toronto TMT page for an introduction to AO Center for Adaptive Optics for more resources on AO
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Expertise, Tools and Publications
