Adaptive optics point spread function reconstruction: lessons learned from on-sky experiment on Altair/Gemini and pathway for future systems

TL;DR

This paper evaluates on-sky adaptive optics PSF reconstruction at Gemini North, highlighting current limitations due to unmodeled aberrations and proposing future improvements for multi-guide star systems.

Contribution

It provides practical insights into PSF-R challenges with existing AO systems and suggests pathways for enhancing reconstruction accuracy in future multi-guide star setups.

Findings

PSF-R works for system diagnostics but has limitations

Unaccounted aberrations cause reconstruction failures

Proposes alternative methods for future AO systems

Abstract

We present the results of an on-sky point spread function reconstruction (PSF-R) experiment for the Gemini North telescope adaptive optics system, Altair, in the simplest mode, bright on-axis natural guise star. We demonstrate that our PSF-R method does work for system performance diagnostic but suffers from hidden telescope and system aberrations that are not accounted for in the model, making the reconstruction unsuccessful for Altair, for now. We discuss the probable origin of the discrepancy. In the last section, we propose alternative PSF-R methods for future multiple natural and laser guide stars systems.