The strongWstrong. M. Keck Observatory Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics.pdfVIP

Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 118:297–309, 2006 February 2006. The Astronomical Society of the Pacific. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. The W. M. Keck Observatory Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics System: Overview Peter L. Wizinowich, David Le Mignant, Antonin H. Bouchez,1 Randy D. Campbell, Jason C. Y. Chin, Adam R. Contos,2 Marcos A. van Dam, Scott K. Hartman, Erik M. Johansson, Robert E. Lafon, Hilton Lewis, Paul J. Stomski, and Douglas M. Summers W. M. Keck Observatory, 65-1120 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI 96743; peterw@ and Curtis G. Brown, Pamela M. Danforth, Claire E. Max,3 and Deanna M. Pennington Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, CA 94550 Received 2005 September 12; accepted 2005 October 31; published 2006 February 9 ABSTRACT. The Keck Observatory began science observations with a laser guide star adaptive optics system, the first such system on an 8–10 m class telescope, in late 2004. This new capability greatly extends the scientific potential of the Keck II Telescope, allowing near–diffraction-limited observations in the near-infrared using natural guide stars as faint as 19th magnitude. This paper describes the conceptual approach and technical implementation followed for this system, including lessons learned, and provides an overview of the early science capabilities. 1. INTRODUCTION systems have been in operation on the Keck II and Keck I Adaptive optics (AO) systems have been in use on astro- Telescopes since 1999