Robo-AO: autonomous and replicable laser-adaptive-optics and science system

TL;DR

Robo-AO is an autonomous laser-guide-star adaptive-optics system on a 1.5-m telescope, enabling high-resolution imaging of numerous targets efficiently for surveys, transient events, and long-term monitoring.

Contribution

This paper introduces Robo-AO, a fully robotic, cost-effective adaptive optics system that can be cloned for other small to medium telescopes, expanding high-resolution observational capabilities.

Findings

Enables diffraction-limited imaging in visible and near-infrared

Allows observation of over 100 targets per night

Supports large-scale AO surveys and transient monitoring

Abstract

We have created a new autonomous laser-guide-star adaptive-optics (AO) instrument on the 60-inch (1.5-m) telescope at Palomar Observatory called Robo-AO. The instrument enables diffraction-limited resolution observing in the visible and near-infrared with the ability to observe well over one-hundred targets per night due to its fully robotic operation. Robo- AO is being used for AO surveys of targets numbering in the thousands, rapid AO imaging of transient events and longterm AO monitoring not feasible on large diameter telescope systems. We have taken advantage of cost-effective advances in deformable mirror and laser technology while engineering Robo-AO with the intention of cloning the system for other few-meter class telescopes around the world.