SAOLIM, a prototype of a low cost System for Adaptive Optics with Lucky Imaging

TL;DR

SAOLIM is a low-cost adaptive optics prototype that improves image quality by stabilizing images and correcting wavefront aberrations, demonstrated successfully on a 2.2m telescope with significant resolution enhancement.

Contribution

This paper introduces a novel low-cost adaptive optics system with high-speed correction capabilities and successful on-sky testing, advancing accessible astronomical imaging technology.

Findings

Achieved fourfold improvement in FWHM resolution.

Successfully closed high order AO loop on natural guide stars.

Demonstrated real-time correction at 420Hz.

Abstract

A prototype of a low cost Adaptive Optics (AO) system has been developed at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC) and tested at the 2.2m telescope of the Calar Alto observatory. We present here the status of the project, which includes the image stabilization system and compensation of high order wavefront aberrations with a membrane deformable mirror. The image stabilization system consists of magnet driven tip-tilt mirror. The higher order compensation system comprises of a Shack-Hartmann sensor, a membrane deformable mirror with 39 actuators and the control computer that allows operations up to 420Hz in closed loop mode. We have successfully closed the high order AO loop on natural guide stars. An improvement of 4 times in terms of FWHM was achieved. The description and the results obtained on the sky are presented in this paper.