A dedicated tool for a full 3D Cn2 investigation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a comprehensive 3D diagnostic tool using the Meso-NH model to analyze optical turbulence above various astronomical sites, aiding in telescope adaptive optics optimization.

Contribution

The study presents a novel 3D diagnostic approach for optical turbulence using the Astro-Meso-Nh package, enabling detailed site comparison and turbulence structure analysis.

Findings

Different OT behaviors observed at various sites.

The tool can discriminate between site turbulence characteristics.

Potential to optimize adaptive optics systems.

Abstract

We present in this study a mapping of the optical turbulence (OT) above different astronomical sites. The mesoscale model Meso-NH was used together with the Astro-Meso-Nh package and a set of diagnostic tools allowing for a full 3D investigation of the Cn2. The diagnostics implemented in the Astro-Meso-Nh, allowing for a full 3D investigation of the OT structure in a volumetric space above different sites, are presented. To illustrate the different diagnostics and their potentialities, we investigated one night and looked at instantaneous fields of meteorologic and astroclimatic parameters. To show the potentialities of this tool for applications in an Observatory we ran the model above sites with very different OT distributions: the antarctic plateau (Dome C, Dome A, South Pole) and a mid-latitude site (Mt. Graham, Arizona). We put particular emphasis on the 2D maps of integrated astroclimatic parameters (seeing, isoplanatic angles) calculated in different slices at different heights in the troposhere. This is an useful tool of prediction and investigation of the turbulence structure. It can support the optimization of the AO, GLAO and MCAO systems running at the focus of the ground-based telescopes.From this studies it emerges that the astronomical sites clearly present different OT behaviors. Besides, our tool allowed us for discriminating these sites.