Experiments on laser guide stars at Mauna Kea Observatory for adaptive imaging in astronomy

摘要: Atmospheric turbulence severely limits the resolution of ground-based astronomical telescopes. Under good seeing conditions at best observatory sites, visible wavelengths is typically limited to about 1 arc s. During past 15 years, adaptive optical systems with electrically deformable mirrors have been developed compensate for turbulence1,2. Unfortunately, these require bright reference sources adjacent object interest and can only be used observe brightest stars. Foy Labeyrie3 were first suggest that lasers could create artificial guide stars might suitable in controlling an imaging system. We recently extended this concept two ways. First, we identified key engineering parameters optimize performance a laser-guided Second, on nights 21 22 January 1987, conducted experiments Mauna Kea Observatory island Hawaii test feasibility using laser generate star mesospheric sodium layer. Here describe both calculations results our experiments.