Dr. Albert R. Conrad Profile

Dr. Albert R. Conrad

at Large Binocular Telescope Observatory

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (47)

Proceedings Article | 3 September 2024 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

Emerging adaptive optics facility at Large Binocular Telescope Observatory

Sam Ragland, Guido Brusa, Alessandro Cavallaro, Heejoo Choi, Juan Carlos Guerra, Tom Herbst, Michael Lefebvre, Douglas Miller, Fernando Pedichini, Jennifer Power, Joseph Shields, Mark Smithwright, Gregory Taylor, Christian Veillet, Xianyu Zhang, Roberto Biasi, Al Conrad, Laird Close, Simone Esposito, Daniele Gallieni, Elena Masciadri, Brandon Mechtley, Eliad Peretz, Enrico Pinna, Roberto Ragazzoni, Fabio Rossi, Guido Agapito, Matthieu Bec, Maria Bergomi, Thomas Bertram, Florian Briegel, Jacopo Farinato, John Hill, Daewook Kim, Luca Marafatto, Roberto Piazzesi, Kalyan Radhakrishnan, Armando Riccardi

Proceedings Volume 13097, 130970L (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3019441

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Wavefront sensors, Equipment, Actuators, Observatories, Cameras, Wavefronts, Stars, Metrology

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The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) Observatory pioneered Adaptive Optics (AO) technologies such as Adaptive Secondary Mirror (ASM), Pyramid wavefront sensor, and Ground-layer AO using Rayleigh lasers at 8 to 10m class telescopes. We have initiated an effort to turn LBT AO into a facility-class capability. The effort involves (1) building an AO team with AO development capability, (2) improving the robustness of the AO, (3) developing in-house AO expertise to maintain and troubleshoot the AO systems, (4) automating processes for efficient on-sky operation, (5) tracking performance metrics and cultivating accountability for on-sky AO performance, and (6) minimizing the operational risks for the ASMs. We present the status of these developments. LBTO continues its efforts to develop innovative technology. We explore the next phase of AO developments, including Agile Extreme Adaptive Optics (AgXAO) on the DX side of the LINC-NIRVANA optical bench to overcome the limitation imposed by varying and large atmospheric seeing at Mount Graham. AgXAO implementation includes the development of (1) a high-order, high-sensitivity wavefront sensor, (2) a high-density deformable mirror with 3000 actuators and next-generation ASM with about 950 actuators, (3) active optics integration, (4) vibration and wavefront piston control, (5) atmospheric turbulence measurements and weather forecast integration, and (6) a visible camera and an AO-corrected narrow-field fiber-coupled IFU spectrograph using one of the existing workhorse visible spectrographs. Developing AgXAO on the SX side, too, would enable Fizeau imaging in the visible wavelengths. AgXAO will also serve as a general-purpose high-contrast (and subsequently a Fizeau imaging) Testbed on LBT to test advanced wavefront control algorithms, including astrophotonics experiments, and machine learning algorithms with minimal impact on routine science operations. We propose developing AgXAO through student projects to train the next-generation scientists and engineers for the extremely large telescope (ELT) era. The ultimate goal is to push large aperture ground-based telescopes to their performance limits and make them competitive with space telescopes in terms of PSF stability and performance to enable breakthrough science.

Proceedings Article | 18 July 2024 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

SHARK-NIR commissioning and early science runs

Domenico Barbato, Jacopo Farinato, Andrea Baruffolo, Maria Bergomi, Andrea Bianco, Federico Biondi, Florian Briegel, Elena Carolo, Paolo Cerpelloni, Alexis Carlotti, Simonetta Chinellato, Albert Conrad, Marco De Pascale, Simone Di Filippo, Marco Dima, Valentina D'Orazi, Steve Ertel, Tania Sofia Gomes Machado, Davide Greggio, Juan Carlos Guerra, Thomas Henning, Justin Hom, John Hill, Fulvio Laudisio, Luigi Lessio, Alessandro Lorenzetto, Demetrio Magrin, Luca Marafatto, Dino Mesa, Doug Miller, Lars Mohr, Manny Montoya, Jennifer Power, Kalyan Radhakrishnan, Davide Ricci, Gabriele Umbriaco, Daniele Vassallo, Valentina Viotto, Greg Taylor, Alessio Zanutta, Ramya Anche, Simone Antoniucci, Carmelo Arcidiacono, Francesca Bacciotti, Pierre Baudoz, Angela Bongiorno, Laird Close, Simone Esposito, Paul Grenz, Olivier Guyon, Jarron Leisenring, Fernando Pedichini, Roberto Piazzesi, Enrico Pinna, Elisa Portaluri, Alfio Puglisi, Roberto Ragazzoni, Gabriele Rodeghiero, Fabio Rossi, Joseph Shields, Macarena Vega Pallauta

Proceedings Volume 13096, 130961W (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3020068

KEYWORDS: Stars, Coronagraphy, Equipment, Telescopes, Adaptive optics, Cameras

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SHARK-NIR is an instrument providing high-contrast coronagraphic imaging, dual band imaging and low resolution spectroscopy in Y, J and H bands, taking advantage of the high performance of the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) AO systems. Its main scientific drivers is the detection and characterization of exoplanets, circumstellar disks, Solar System small bodies and acrive galactic nuclei. Binocular observations are provided by exploiting the synergy with SHARK-VIS (operating in V band) and LMIRCam of LBTI (operating from K to M band). SHARK-NIR was shipped to LBT in June 2022, and up to November 2022 was the subject of the three pre-commissioning runs: the first to install and test the instrument in the high-bay LBT clean tent, the second to install and align the instrument to the telescope and the third to perform daytime testing. This pre-commissioning phase resulted in the successful alignment of the instrument with a very good internal optical quality and the performance of additional tests using simulated turbulence injected through LBT Adaptive Secondary Mirror. In January 2023 we had the first commissioning run and the instrument first light, in which we successfully tested the imaging capabilities with and without the Gaussian Lyot coronagraph. In March 2023 we had the second commissioning run, in which despite the bad weather we successfully performed a variety of technical activities, as well as preliminary testing of the Shaped Pupil coronagraph. After two additional commissioning runs in May and October, our first early scientific run in October 2023 focused on the Taurus star formation region, a region populated by targets of considerable scientific interest. In this paper we will give an overview of commissioning and the early science phases running from October 2023 to May 2024, focusing on the technical challenges we overcame and future work needed to push the instrument to its very limit, as well as presenting the first preliminary scientific results.

Proceedings Article | 18 July 2024 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

The instrumentation program at the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory in 2024

Joseph Shields, Jason Chu, Albert Conrad, Jonathan Crass, Justin Crepp, Steve Ertel, Jacopo Farinato, Ilya Ilyin, Olga Kuhn, Luca Marafatto, Fernando Pedichini, Roberto Piazzesi, Richard Pogge, Jennifer Power, Sam Ragland, Robert Reynolds, James Riedl, Mark Smithwright, Klaus Strassmeier, David Thompson

Proceedings Volume 13096, 1309604 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3020365

KEYWORDS: Equipment, Telescopes, Observatories, Adaptive optics, Imaging spectroscopy, Astronomical imaging, Cameras, Spectroscopes, Spectrographs, Exoplanets

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SPIE Journal Paper | 2 December 2022

Plug-in cross-dispersing module for the Large Binocular Telescope’s infrared spectrograph LUCI

Hyukmo Kang, David Thompson, Al Conrad, James Wiese, Heejoo Choi, Vishnu Reddy, Daewook Kim

JATIS, Vol. 8, Issue 04, 045003, (December 2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JATIS.8.4.045003

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Infrared telescopes, Telescopes, Near infrared, Spectrographs, Prisms, Infrared radiation, Equipment, Sensors, Spherical lenses

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Proceedings Article | 25 August 2022 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

SHARK-NIR: from design to installation, ready to dive into first light

M. Bergomi, L. Marafatto, E. Carolo, D. Greggio, D. Ricci, D. Vassallo, L. Lessio, K. K. Radhakrishnan Santhakumari, G. Umbriaco, M. Dima, S. Di Filippo, V. D'Orazi, D. Mesa, M. Montoya, L. Mohr, V. Viotto, A. Baruffolo, F. Biondi, S. Chavan, Si. Chinellato, M. De Pascale, K. Don, P. Grenz, F. Laudisio, J. Leisenrin, R. Ragazzoni, F. Pedichini, R. Piazzesi, E. Pinna, A. Puglisi, A. Bianco, A. Carlotti, C. Knapic, M. Vicinanza, A. Zanutta, J. Christou, A. Conrad, L. Funk, C. Veillet, J. Farinato

Proceedings Volume 12187, 1218709 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629388

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Cameras, Coronagraphy, Observatories, Optical benches, Sensors, Electronics, Adaptive optics, Spectroscopes

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Proceedings Article | 14 December 2020 Presentation

Presentation

Adaptive optics all the time at the LBTO

Julian Christou, Christian Veillet, Douglas Miller, Guido Brusa, Alessandaro Cavallaro, Gregory Taylor, Laura Funk, Al Conrad, Gustavo Rahmer, Xianyu Zhang, Shane Walsh, Steve Ertel, Enrico Pinna, Simone Esposito

Proceedings Volume 11448, 1144824 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562443

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Calibration, Mirrors, Wavefront sensors, Image quality, Reliability, Actuators, Wavefronts, Matrices

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Proceedings Article | 13 December 2020 Poster + Paper

Poster + Paper

Adaptive secondary mirrors upgrades at the Large Binocular Telescope

Guido Brusa, Xianyu Zhang, Michael Lefebvre, Julian Christou, Albert Conrad, Roberto Biasi, Mario Andrighettoni, Martin Glück, Moritz Straub, Jörg-Uwe Pott

Proceedings Volume 11448, 114485T (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2563092

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Mirrors, Interferometers, Control systems, Electronics, Adaptive optics, Cameras, New and emerging technologies, Reliability, Signal attenuation

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Proceedings Article | 13 December 2020 Poster + Presentation + Paper

Poster + Presentation + Paper

A program to monitor and improve routine AO operations

Al Conrad, Shane Walsh, Doug Miller, Yang Zhang, Steve Ertel, Matthieu Bec

Proceedings Volume 11448, 114487T (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2569987

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Proceedings Article | 9 September 2019 Paper

Paper

Modular plug-in extension enabling cross-dispersed spectroscopy for Large Binocular Telescope

Hyukmo Kang, David Thompson, Al Conrad, Conrad Vogel, Ariel Lamdan, Dae Wook Kim

Proceedings Volume 11116, 1111606 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2528865

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Telescopes, Prisms, Near infrared, Spectrographs, Spectroscopy, Image quality, Sensors, Imaging spectroscopy

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Proceedings Article | 13 July 2018 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

Adaptive optics systems at the Large Binocular Telescope: status, upgrades, and improvements

Julian Christou, Guido Brusa, Al Conrad, John Hill, Douglas Miller, Gustavo Rahmer, Gregory Taylor, Christian Veillet, Xianyu Zhang

Proceedings Volume 10703, 107030A (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312782

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Stars, Interferometry, Cameras, Mirrors, Sensors, Electronic support measures, Actuators, Spectroscopy

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Proceedings Article | 10 July 2018 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

MagAO-X: project status and first laboratory results

Jared Males, Laird Close, Kelsey Miller, Lauren Schatz, David Doelman, Jennifer Lumbres, Frans Snik, Alex Rodack, Justin Knight, Kyle Van Gorkom, Joseph Long, Alex Hedglen, Maggie Kautz, Nemanja Jovanovic, Katie Morzinski, Olivier Guyon, Ewan Douglas, Katherine Follette, Julien Lozi, Chris Bohlman, Olivier Durney, Victor Gasho, Phil Hinz, Michael Ireland, Madison Jean, Christoph Keller, Matt Kenworthy, Ben Mazin, Jamison Noenickx, Dan Alfred, Kevin Perez, Anna Sanchez, Corwynn Sauve, Alycia Weinberger, Al Conrad

Proceedings Volume 10703, 1070309 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312992

KEYWORDS: Coronagraphy, Stars, Telescopes, Adaptive optics, Planets, Wavefronts, Computing systems, Observatories

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Proceedings Article | 9 July 2018 Paper

Paper

Simultaneous ground- and space-based observations in the JWST era

Al Conrad, Christian Veillet

Proceedings Volume 10701, 1070128 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2314164

KEYWORDS: Space telescopes, Telescopes, Point spread functions, Spatial resolution, James Webb Space Telescope, Information operations, Photometry, Image resolution, Adaptive optics, Interferometry

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Proceedings Article | 4 August 2016 Paper

Paper

The role of Fizeau interferometry in planetary science

Albert Conrad

Proceedings Volume 9907, 99070L (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231992

KEYWORDS: Solar system, Interferometry, Spatial resolution, Adaptive optics, Information operations, Telescopes, Stars, Jupiter, Planetary science, Asteroids

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Historically, two types of interferometer have been used to the study of solar system objects: coaxial and Fizeau. While coaxial interferometers are well-suited to a wide range of galactic and extra-galactic science cases, solar system science cases are, in most cases, better carried out with Fizeau imagers. Targets of interest in our solar system are often bright and compact, and the science cases for these objects often call for a complete, or nearly complete, image at high angular resolution. For both methods, multiple images must be taken at varying baselines to reconstruct an image. However, with the Fizeau technique that number is far fewer than it is for the aperture synthesis method employed by co-axial interferometers.

In our solar system, bodies rotate and their surfaces are sometimes changing over yearly, or even weekly, time scales. Thus, the need to be able to exploit the high angular resolution of an interferometer with only a handful of observations taken on a single night, as is the case for Fizeau interferometers, gives a key advantage to this technique.

The aperture of the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), two 8.4 circular mirrors separated center-to-center by 14.4 meters, is optimal for supporting Fizeau interferometry. The first of two Fizeau imagers planned for LBT, the LBT Interferometer (LBTI),¹ saw first fringes in 2010 and has proven to be a valuable tool for solar system studies. Recent studies of Jupiters volcanic moon Io have yielded results that rely on the angular resolution provided by the full 23-meter baseline of LBT Future studies of the aurora at Jupiters poles and the shape and binarity of asteroids are planned.

While many solar system studies can be carried out on-axis (i.e., using the target of interest as the beacon for both adaptive optics correction and fringe tracking), studies such as Io-in-eclipse, full disk of Jupiter and Mars, and binarity of Kuiper belt objects, require off-axis observations (i.e., using one or more nearby guide-moons or stars for adaptive optics correction and fringe tracking). These studies can be plagued by anisoplanatism, or cone effect. LINC-NIRVANA (LN),2 the first multi-conjugate adaptive optics system (MCAO) on an 8-meter class telescope in the northern hemisphere, provides a solution to the ill-effects of anisoplanatism. One of the LN ground layer wave front sensors was tested on LBT during 2014.^3-5 Longer term, an upgrade planned for LN will establish its original role as the second LBT Fizeau imager. The full-disk study of several solar system bodies, most notably large and/or nearby bodies such as Jupiter and Mars which span tens of arcseconds, would be best studied with LN.

We will review the past accomplishments of Fizeau interferometry with LBTI, present plans for using that instrument for future solar system studies, and, lastly, explore the unique solar system studies that require the LN MCAO system combined with Fizeau interferometry.

Proceedings Article | 27 July 2016 Paper

Paper

Adaptive optics capabilities at the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory

J. Christou, G. Brusa, A. Conrad, S. Esposito, T. Herbst, P. Hinz, J. Hill, D. Miller, S. Rabien, G. Rahmer, G. Taylor, C. Veillet, X. Zhang

Proceedings Volume 9909, 99092E (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231783

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Imaging systems, Mirrors, Stars, Optical benches, Sensors, Interferometry, Cameras, Point spread functions

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Proceedings Article | 27 July 2016 Paper

Paper

The path to visible extreme adaptive optics with MagAO-2K and MagAO-X

Jared Males, Laird Close, Olivier Guyon, Katie Morzinski, Philip Hinz, Simone Esposito, Enrico Pinna, Marco Xompero, Runa Briguglio, Armando Riccardi, Alfio Puglisi, Ben Mazin, Michael Ireland, Alycia Weinberger, Al Conrad, Matthew Kenworthy, Frans Snik, Gilles Otten, Nemanja Jovanovic, Julien Lozi

Proceedings Volume 9909, 990952 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234105

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Imaging systems, Sensors, Adaptive optics, Coronagraphy, Stars, Atmospheric modeling, Point spread functions, Liquid crystal on silicon, Telescopes, Error analysis

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Proceedings Article | 27 July 2016 Paper

Paper

OVMS-plus at the LBT: disturbance compensation simplified

Michael Böhm, Jörg-Uwe Pott, José Borelli, Phil Hinz, Denis Defrère, Elwood Downey, John Hill, Kellee Summers, Al Conrad, Martin Kürster, Tom Herbst, Oliver Sawodny

Proceedings Volume 9906, 99062R (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231268

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Mirrors, Interferometry, Sensors, Adaptive optics, Interferometers, Astronomy, Computer architecture, Feedback loops

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Proceedings Article | 7 August 2014 Paper

Paper

Pathfinder first light: alignment, calibration, and commissioning of the LINC-NIRVANA ground-layer adaptive optics subsystem

Derek Kopon, Al Conrad, Carmelo Arcidiacono, Tom Herbst, Valentina Viotto, Jacopo Farinato, Maria Bergomi, Roberto Ragazzoni, Luca Marafatto, Harald Baumeister, Thomas Bertram, Jürgen Berwein, Florian Briegel, Ralph Hofferbert, Frank Kittmann, Martin Kürster, Lars Mohr, Kalyan Radhakrishnan

Proceedings Volume 9148, 914828 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2056737

KEYWORDS: Stars, Adaptive optics, Mirrors, Telescopes, Optical alignment, Calibration, Cameras, Wavefront sensors, Infrared cameras, Space telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 6 August 2014 Paper

Paper

Acquiring multiple stars with the LINC-NIRVANA Pathfinder

Albert Conrad, Carmelo Arcidiacono, Harald Baumeister, Maria Bergomi, Thomas Bertram, Jürgen Berwein, Florian Briegel, Jacopo Farinato, Tom Herbst, Ralph Hofferbert, Frank Kittmann, Martin Kürster, Derek Kopon, Luca Marafatto, Mark Norris, Roberto Ragazzoni, Valentina Viotto

Proceedings Volume 9149, 91491O (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055648

KEYWORDS: Stars, Cameras, Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Sensors, Visualization, Target acquisition, Prototyping, Human-machine interfaces, Wavefront sensors

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

Paper

Fizeau interferometric imaging of Io volcanism with LBTI/LMIRcam

J. Leisenring, P. Hinz, M. Skrutskie, A. Skemer, C. Woodward, C. Veillet, C. Arcidiacono, V. Bailey, M. Bertero, P. Boccacci, A. Conrad, K. de Kleer, I. de Pater, D. Defrère, J. Hill, K.-H. Hofmann, L. Kaltenegger, A. La Camera, M. Nelson, D. Schertl, J. Spencer, G. Weigelt, J. Wilson

Proceedings Volume 9146, 91462S (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057290

KEYWORDS: Information operations, Point spread functions, Interferometry, Telescopes, Deconvolution, Reconstruction algorithms, Spatial resolution, Image restoration, Mirrors, Image resolution

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Proceedings Article | 21 July 2014 Paper

Paper

First light of the LINC-NIRVANA Pathfinder experiment

M. Bergomi, V. Viotto, C. Arcidiacono, L. Marafatto, J. Farinato, H. Baumeister, T. Bertram, J. Berwein, F. Briegel, A. Conrad, F. Kittman, D. Kopon, R. Hofferbert, D. Magrin, K. Radhakrishnan Santhakumari, A. Puglisi, M. Xompero, R. Briguglio, F. Quiros-Pacheco, T. Herbst, R. Ragazzoni

Proceedings Volume 9148, 91482Y (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055533

KEYWORDS: Stars, Calibration, Cameras, Telescopes, Adaptive optics, Mirrors, Wavefront sensors, Matrices, Charge-coupled devices, Turbulence

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SPIE Journal Paper | 6 February 2013

LINC-NIRVANA for the large binocular telescope: setting up the world’s largest near infrared binoculars for astronomy

Ralph Hofferbert, Harald Baumeister, Thomas Bertram, Jürgen Berwein, Peter Bizenberger, Armin Böhm, Michael Böhm, José Luis Borelli, Matthieu Brangier, Florian Briegel, Albert Conrad, Fulvio De Bonis, Roman Follert, Thomas Herbst, Armin Huber, Frank Kittmann, Martin Kürster, Werner Laun, Ulrich Mall, Daniel Meschke, Lars Mohr, Vianak Naranjo, Aleksei Pavlov, Jorg-Uwe Pott, Hans-Walter Rix, Ralf-Rainer Rohloff, Eva Schinnerer, Clemens Storz, Jan Trowitzsch, Zhaojun Yan, Xianyu Zhang, Andreas Eckart, Matthew Horrobin, Steffen Rost, Christian Straubmeier, Imke Wank, Jens Zuther, Udo Beckmann, Claus Connot, Matthias Heininger, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Tim Kroner, Edmund Nussbaum, Dieter Schertl, Gerd Weigelt, Maria Bergomi, Alessandro Brunelli, Marco Dima, Jacopo Farinato, Demetrio Magrin, Luca Marafatto, Roberto Ragazzoni, Valentina Viotto, Carmelo Arcidiacono, Giovanni Bregoli, Paolo Ciliegi, Giuseppe Cosentino, Emiliano Diolaiti, Italo Foppiani, Matteo Lombini, Laura Schreiber, Francesco D'Alessio, Gianluca Li Causi, Dario Lorenzetti, Fabrizio Vitali, Mario Bertero, Patrizia Boccacci, Andrea La Camera

OE, Vol. 52, Issue 08, 081602, (February 2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.OE.52.8.081602

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Sensors, Mirrors, Interferometry, Near infrared, Adaptive optics, Interfaces, Cameras, Optical engineering, Astronomy

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Proceedings Article | 24 October 2012 Paper

Paper

LINC-NIRVANA for the LBT: setting up the world's largest NIR binoculars for astronomy

Ralph Hofferbert, Harald Baumeister, Thomas Bertram, Jürgen Berwein, Peter Bizenberger, Armin Böhm, Michael Böhm, José Luis Borelli, Matthieu Brangier, Florian Briegel, Albert Conrad, Fulvio De Bonis, Roman Follert, Tom Herbst, Armin Huber, Frank Kittmann, Martin Kürster, Werner Laun, Ulrich Mall, Daniel Meschke, Lars Mohr, Vianak Naranjo, Aleksei Pavlov, Jörg-Uwe Pott, Hans-Walter Rix, Ralf-Rainer Rohloff, Eva Schinnerer, Clemens Storz, Jan Trowitzsch, Zhaojun Yan, Xianyu Zhang, Andreas Eckart, Matthew Horrobin, Steffen Rost, Christian Straubmeier, Imke Wank, Jens Zuther, Udo Beckmann, Claus Connot, Matthias Heininger, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Tim Kröner, Eddy Nussbaum, Dieter Schertl, Gerd Weigelt, Maria Bergomi, Alessandro Brunelli, Marco Dima, Jacopo Farinato, Demetrio Magrin, Luca Marafatto, Roberto Ragazzoni, Valentina Viotto, Carmelo Arcidiacono, Giovanni Bregoli, Paolo Ciliegi, Guiseppe Cosentino, Emiliano Diolaiti, Italo Foppiani, Matteo Lombini, Laura Schreiber, Francesco D'Alessio, Gianluca Li Causi, Dario Lorenzetti, Fabrizio Vitali, Mario Bertero, Patrizia Boccacci, Andrea La Camera

Proceedings Volume 8511, 85110A (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.928284

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Mirrors, Sensors, Interferometry, Cameras, Adaptive optics, Near infrared, Stars, Imaging systems, Interfaces

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Proceedings Article | 15 October 2012 Paper

Paper

Large field-of-view configurations for large-telescope adaptive optics systems: advantages and tradeoffs

Xianyu Zhang, Thomas Herbst, Changhui Rao, Peter Bizenberger, Albert Conrad, Carmelo Arcidiacono, Wolfgang Gaessler, Roberto Ragazzoni, Thomas Bertram

Proceedings Volume 8415, 841507 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.977706

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Wavefront sensors, Stars, Mirrors, Telescopes, Charge-coupled devices, Large telescopes, Atmospheric turbulence, Sensors, Turbulence

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Proceedings Article | 15 October 2012 Paper

Paper

Measurement of non-common path static aberrations in an interferometric camera by phase diversity

Zhaojun Yan, Thomas Herbst, Pengqian Yang, Peter Bizenberger, Xianyu Zhang, Albert Conrad, Thomas Bertram, Martin Kuerster, Hans-Walter Rix, Xinyang Li, Changhui Rao

Proceedings Volume 8417, 841726 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.974523

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Adaptive optics, Interferometry, Sensors, Channel projecting optics, Optical testing, Computer simulations, Imaging systems, Phase interferometry, Telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 24 September 2012 Paper

Paper

Tips and tricks for aligning an image derotator

A. Brunelli, M. Bergomi, M. Dima, J. Farinato, D. Magrin, L. Maraffatto, R. Ragazzoni, V. Viotto, T. Bertram, P. Bizenberger, A. Conrad, T. Herbst, D. Meschke

Proceedings Volume 8446, 84464L (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926884

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, CCD cameras, Cameras, Sensors, Charge-coupled devices, Mirror mounts, Optical alignment, Alignment procedures, Stars, Laser sources

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Proceedings Article | 13 September 2012 Paper

Paper

The LINC-NIRVANA high layer wavefront sensor laboratory experiment: progress report

Xianyu Zhang, Albert Conrad, Daniel Meschke, Thomas Bertram, Thomas Herbst, Carmelo Arcidiacono, Peter Bizenberger, Wolfgang Gaessler, Laura Schreiber, Roberto Ragazzoni, Martin Kuerster, Fulvio De Bonis, Lars Mohr, Jacopo Farinato, Emiliano Diolaiti, Hans-Walter Rix, Changhui Rao, Florian Briegel, Frank Kittmann, Juergen Berwein, Jan Trowitzsch, Matthieu Brangier

Proceedings Volume 8447, 84476H (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926304

KEYWORDS: Stars, Wavefront sensors, Adaptive optics, Deformable mirrors, Telescopes, Calibration, Mirrors, Cameras, Astronomy, Atmospheric optics

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Proceedings Article | 13 September 2012 Paper

Paper

LINC-NIRVANA Pathfinder: testing the next generation of wave front sensors at LBT

Albert Conrad, Carmelo Arcidiacono, Harald Baumeister, Maria Bergomi, Thomas Bertram, Juergen Berwein, Chris Biddick, Peter Bizenberger, Matthieu Brangier, Florian Briegel, Alessandro Brunelli, Joar Brynnel, Lorenzo Busoni, Norm Cushing, Fulvio De Bonis, Michele De La Pena, Simone Esposito, Jacopo Farinato, Luca Fini, Richard Green, Tom Herbst, Ralph Hofferbert, Frank Kittmann, Martin Kuerster, Werner Laun, Daniel Meschke, Lars Mohr, Aleksei Pavlov, Jorg-Uwe Pott, Alfio Puglisi, Roberto Ragazzoni, Andrew Rakich, Ralf-Rainer Rohloff, Jan Trowitzsch, Valentina Viotto, Xianyu Zhang

Proceedings Volume 8447, 84470V (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925650

KEYWORDS: Stars, Adaptive optics, Wavefronts, Calibration, Charge-coupled devices, Mirrors, Cameras, Infrared cameras, CCD cameras, Wavefront sensors

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Proceedings Article | 13 September 2012 Paper

Paper

Pupil rotation compensation for LINC-NIRVANA

Matthieu Brangier, Albert Conrad, Thomas Bertram, Xianyu Zhang, Juergen Berwein, Florian Briegel, Thomas Herbst, Roberto Ragazzoni

Proceedings Volume 8447, 84472U (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.927121

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Sensors, Deformable mirrors, Control systems, Interferometry, Imaging systems, CCD image sensors, Charge-coupled devices, Wavefront sensors, Infrared telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 13 September 2012 Paper

Paper

Aligning a more than 100 degrees of freedom wavefront sensor

Luca Marafatto, Maria Bergomi, Alessandro Brunelli, Marco Dima, Jacopo Farinato, Giancarlo Farisato, Luigi Lessio, Demetrio Magrin, Roberto Ragazzoni, Valentina Viotto, Thomas Bertram, Peter Bizenberger, Matthieu Brangier, Florian Briegel, Albert Conrad, Fulvio De Bonis, Tom Herbst, Ralph Hofferbert, Frank Kittmann, Martin Kürster, Daniel Meschke, Lars Mohr, Ralf-Rainer Rohloff

Proceedings Volume 8447, 84476F (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926773

KEYWORDS: Selenium, Charge-coupled devices, Mirrors, Stars, Sensors, Collimation, Superposition, Wavefront sensors, Beam splitters, Optical components

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2010 Paper

Paper

W. M. Keck Observatory's next-generation adaptive optics facility

P. Wizinowich, S. Adkins, R. Dekany, D. Gavel, C. Max, R. Bartos, J. Bell, A. Bouchez, J. Chin, A. Conrad, A. Delacroix, E. Johansson, R. Kupke, C. Lockwood, J. Lyke, F. Marchis, E. McGrath, D. Medeiros, M. Morris, D. Morrison, C. Neyman, S. Panteleev, M. Pollard, M. Reinig, T. Stalcup, S. Thomas, M. Troy, K. Tsubota, V. Velur, K. Wallace, E. Wetherell

Proceedings Volume 7736, 77360K (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857628

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Wavefront sensors, Stars, Tomography, Control systems, Keck Observatory, Galactic astronomy, Wavefronts, Sensors

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Proceedings Article | 21 July 2010 Paper

Paper

DAVINCI: a high-performance imager and integral field spectrograph for the W. M. Keck Observatory's next-generation adaptive optics facility

Sean Adkins, James Bell, Albert Conrad, Mike Fitzgerald, Renate Kupke, James Larkin, Lee Laiterman, Jim Lyke, Claire Max, Elizabeth McGrath, Mike Pollard, Sergey Panteleev, Sandrine Thomas, Peter Wizinowich

Proceedings Volume 7735, 77357S (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857840

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Imaging systems, Adaptive optics, Iterated function systems, Sensors, Spectrographs, Signal to noise ratio, Point spread functions, Telescopes, Relays

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Proceedings Article | 12 July 2008 Paper

Paper

AO operations at the W. M. Keck Observatory

Randall Campbell, David Le Mignant, Marcos van Dam, Al Conrad, Kenny Grace, Marc Kassis, James Lyke, Hien Tran, Jason Chin, Elizabeth Chock, Steven Doyle, Robert Goodrich, Erik Johansson, Tomas Krasuski, Christine Melcher, Douglas Summers, Roger Sumner, Peter Wizinowich

Proceedings Volume 7016, 701604 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.790118

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Observatories, Stars, Keck Observatory, Satellites, Laser safety, Safety, Calibration, Space telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 29 June 2006 Paper

Paper

LGS AO operations at the W.M. Keck Observatory

David Le Mignant, Randall Campbell, Antonin Bouchez, Jason Chin, Elizabeth Chock, Al Conrad, Marcos van Dam, Steve Doyle, Robert Goodrich, Erik Johansson, Robert Lafon, James Lyke, Christine Melcher, Ronald Mouser, Douglas Summers, Cynthia Wilburn, Peter Wizinowich

Proceedings Volume 6270, 62700C (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671837

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Stars, Laser safety, Keck Observatory, Observatories, Space telescopes, Laser guide stars, Sodium, Cameras

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Proceedings Article | 27 June 2006 Paper

Paper

Optimizing interactive performance for long-distance remote observing

Robert Kibrick, Steven Allen, Al Conrad, Gregory Wirth

Proceedings Volume 6274, 62740R (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671937

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Visualization, Computing systems, Keck Observatory, Observatories, Video, Switches, Internet, Computer networks, Image display

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Proceedings Article | 27 June 2006 Paper

Paper

LGS AO at W.M. Keck Observatory: routine operations and remaining challenges

David Le Mignant, Marcos van Dam, Antonin Bouchez, Jason Chin, Elizabeth Chock, Randall Campbell, Al Conrad, Steve Doyle, Robert Goodrich, Erik Johansson, Shui Kwok, Robert Lafon, James Lyke, Christine Melcher, Ronald Mouser, Douglas Summers, Paul Stomski, Cynthia Wilburn, Peter Wizinowich

Proceedings Volume 6272, 627201 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671939

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Stars, Telescopes, Laser guide stars, Sodium, Keck Observatory, Sensors, Laser safety, Calibration, Target acquisition

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Proceedings Article | 15 September 2004 Paper

Paper

Optimizing the use of X and VNC protocols for support of remote observing

Robert Kibrick, Steven Allen, Al Conrad, Terry Stickel, Gregory Wirth

Proceedings Volume 5496, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.552365

KEYWORDS: Computing systems, Visualization, Telescopes, Image display, Switches, Control systems, Zoom lenses, Keck Observatory, Video, Performance modeling

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Proceedings Article | 13 February 2003 Paper

Paper

Io: the movie

David Le Mignant, Franck Marchis, Shui Hung Kwok, Paola Amico, Randy Campbell, Frederic Chaffee, Albert Conrad, Adam Contos, Robert Goodrich, Grant Hill, David Sprayberry, Paul Stomski, Peter Wizinowich, Imke de Pater

Proceedings Volume 4834, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.457108

KEYWORDS: Information operations, Java, Adaptive optics, Deconvolution, Stars, Spatial resolution, Telescopes, Keck Observatory, Infrared imaging, Algorithm development

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Proceedings Article | 13 December 2002 Paper

Paper

Do bigger telescopes need bigger software?

Hilton Lewis, Albert Conrad, Robert Kibrick

Proceedings Volume 4848, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.461406

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Software development, Adaptive optics, Space telescopes, Large telescopes, Safety, Observatories, Wavefronts, Astronomy, Optical instrument design

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Proceedings Article | 13 December 2002 Paper

Paper

Mira: a case study

Shui Hung Kwok, Albert Conrad

Proceedings Volume 4848, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.461305

KEYWORDS: Human-machine interfaces, Mirrors, Image segmentation, Java, Image acquisition, Image quality, Telescopes, Software development, Image processing, Alignment procedures

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Proceedings Article | 27 November 2002 Paper

Paper

Applying modern collaboration methods to distributed engineering projects

Albert Conrad, Jason Weiss, Allan Honey

Proceedings Volume 4845, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459495

KEYWORDS: Video, Internet, Astronomy, Sensors, Keck Observatory, Detector development, Software engineering, Aluminum, Physics, Floods

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Proceedings Article | 27 November 2002 Paper

Paper

Remote observing with the Keck telescopes from multiple sites in California

Robert Kibrick, Brian Hayes, Steven Allen, Albert Conrad

Proceedings Volume 4845, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.456587

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Internet, Keck Observatory, Data backup, Astronomical telescopes, Space telescopes, Observatories, CRTs, Reliability, Spectrographs

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Proceedings Article | 2 June 2000 Paper

Paper

Remote observing with the Keck Telescopes from the U.S. mainland

Robert Kibrick, Steven Allen, Albert Conrad

Proceedings Volume 4011, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.387218

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Video, Observatories, Space telescopes, Cameras, Internet, Image compression, Astronomical telescopes, Reliability, Data modeling

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Proceedings Article | 18 September 1997 Paper

Paper

Remote observing with the Keck Telescopes

Albert Conrad, John Gathright, Robert Kibrick

Proceedings Volume 3112, (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.278817

KEYWORDS: Image compression, Internet, Image transmission, Telescopes, Network security, Computing systems, Satellites, Charge-coupled devices, Transmitters, Visualization

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Proceedings Article | 18 September 1997 Paper

Paper

User interface and control software for the HIRES image rotator on Keck-1

Robert Kibrick, Albert Conrad, John Gathright, Dean Tucker

Proceedings Volume 3112, (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.284228

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Computer programming, Control systems, Prisms, Human-machine interfaces, Servomechanisms, Cameras, Spectroscopy, Image compression, Optical instrument design

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Proceedings Article | 8 June 1995 Paper

Paper

SKY system for az/el telescope control

Albert Conrad

Proceedings Volume 2479, (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.211458

KEYWORDS: Stars, Telescopes, Point spread functions, Control systems, Keck Observatory, Astronomical imaging, Sensors, Aluminum, Optical instrument design

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Proceedings Article | 1 June 1994 Paper

Paper

HIRES: the high-resolution echelle spectrometer on the Keck 10-m Telescope

Steven Vogt, Steven Allen, Bruce Bigelow, L. Bresee, William Brown, T. Cantrall, Albert Conrad, M. Couture, C. Delaney, Harland Epps, Darrie Hilyard, David Hilyard, E. Horn, Neal Jern, D. Kanto, Michael Keane, Robert Kibrick, James Lewis, Jack Osborne, Gerard Pardeilhan, Terry Pfister, T. Ricketts, Lloyd Robinson, Richard Stover, Dean Tucker, Janice Ward, Mingzhi Wei

Proceedings Volume 2198, (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176725

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Telescopes, Charge-coupled devices, Spectroscopy, Stars, Lithium, Control systems, Absorption, Beryllium, Mirrors

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Proceedings Article | 1 June 1994 Paper

Paper

Two spectrograph control displays for the W.M. Keck Telescope

Albert Conrad, Robert Kibrick, John Cromer

Proceedings Volume 2198, (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176699

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Optical components, Computer programming, Telescopes, Optical filters, Human-machine interfaces, Keck Observatory, Mirrors, Image resolution

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Showing 5 of 47 publications

Conference Committee Involvement (1)

Advanced Global Communications Technologies for Astronomy

31 March 2000 | Munich, Germany

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