MICADO: the E-ELT Adaptive Optics Imaging Camera

TL;DR

MICADO is a highly advanced adaptive optics imaging camera designed for the E-ELT, enabling diffraction-limited imaging over a wide field with versatile AO modes, supporting diverse astronomical observations.

Contribution

This paper introduces MICADO's design, capabilities, and performance, highlighting its integration with the E-ELT and its adaptive optics system for high-resolution imaging.

Findings

Provides diffraction limited imaging over 1 arcmin field

Supports natural guide star AO mode for initial operations

Details the instrument's technical design and expected performance

Abstract

MICADO is the adaptive optics imaging camera for the E-ELT. It has been designed and optimised to be mounted to the LGS-MCAO system MAORY, and will provide diffraction limited imaging over a wide (about 1 arcmin) field of view. For initial operations, it can also be used with its own simpler AO module that provides on-axis diffraction limited performance using natural guide stars. We discuss the instrument's key capabilities and expected performance, and show how the science drivers have shaped its design. We outline the technical concept, from the opto-mechanical design to operations and data processing. We describe the AO module, summarise the instrument performance, and indicate some possible future developments.