Prime focus active optics with the Large Binocular Telescope

J. M. Hill; R. Ragazzoni; A. Baruffolo; C. J. Biddick; O. P. Kuhn; E. Diolaiti; D. Thompson; A. Rakich

doi:10.1117/12.789993

10 July 2008 Prime focus active optics with the Large Binocular Telescope

J. M. Hill, R. Ragazzoni, A. Baruffolo, C. J. Biddick, O. P. Kuhn, E. Diolaiti, D. Thompson, A. Rakich

Proceedings Volume 7012, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes II; 70121M (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789993
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) on Mt. Graham in Southeastern Arizona uses two 8.4-meter diameter primary mirrors mounted side-by-side to produce a collecting area equivalent to an 11.8-meter circular aperture. We describe our use of active optics with the honeycomb primary mirrors to provide focussing, collimation and low-order active wavefront correction for the two prime focus cameras now operating on the telescope. We use a custom IDL program, LBCFPIA, to geometrically analyze extrafocal pupils in order to determine focus and wavefront corrections through third-order spherical aberration. We also describe that section of the telescope control system which manages primary mirror collimation and accepts wavefront correction requests from the instrument. We present active optics results obtained during commissioning of the prime focus cameras and during science observations.

Citation Download Citation

J. M. Hill, R. Ragazzoni, A. Baruffolo, C. J. Biddick, O. P. Kuhn, E. Diolaiti, D. Thompson, and A. Rakich "Prime focus active optics with the Large Binocular Telescope", Proc. SPIE 7012, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes II, 70121M (10 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789993

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