Active optics Shack-Hartmann sensor: using spot sizes to measure the seeing at the focal plane of a telescope

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that active optics Shack-Hartmann sensors can be used to accurately estimate atmospheric seeing at a telescope's focus by analyzing spot sizes with a dedicated algorithm, aiding adaptive optics systems.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel method to estimate seeing from AOSH sensor images using a dedicated algorithm, despite sensors not being originally designed for this purpose.

Findings

Accurate seeing estimation is achievable from AOSH images.

Two algorithms' sensitivities to parameters are systematically compared.

Efficient seeing measurement can be obtained with proper analysis methods.

Abstract

Real-time seeing estimation at the focus of a telescope is nowadays strongly emphasized as this knowledge virtually drives the dimensioning of adaptive optics systems and instrument operational aspects. In this context we study the interest of using active optics Shack-Hartmann (AOSH) sensor images to provide accurate estimate of the seeing. The AOSH practically delivers long exposure spot PSFs -- at the critical location of the telescope focus -- being directly related to the atmospheric seeing in the line of sight. Although AOSH sensors are not specified to measure spot sizes but slopes, we show that accurate seeing estimation from AOSH images can be obtained with a dedicated algorithm. The sensitivity and comparison of two algorithms to various parameters is analyzed in a systematic way, demonstrating that efficient estimation of the seeing can be obtained by adequate means.