KAPAO: a MEMS-based natural guide star adaptive optics system

TL;DR

KAPAO is a low-cost, adaptive optics system using MEMS deformable mirrors, designed for small telescopes, with prototype testing and plans for a more advanced final version involving undergraduate collaboration.

Contribution

This work introduces KAPAO, a novel, accessible adaptive optics system for small observatories, integrating MEMS technology and open-source control software.

Findings

Successful on-sky testing of KAPAO-Alpha prototype

Design and development of the more capable KAPAO-Prime system

Engagement of undergraduates in all project phases

Abstract

We describe KAPAO, our project to develop and deploy a low-cost, remote-access, natural guide star adaptive optics (AO) system for the Pomona College Table Mountain Observatory (TMO) 1-meter telescope. We use a commercially available 140-actuator BMC MEMS deformable mirror and a version of the Robo-AO control software developed by Caltech and IUCAA. We have structured our development around the rapid building and testing of a prototype system, KAPAO-Alpha, while simultaneously designing our more capable final system, KAPAO-Prime. The main differences between these systems are the prototype's reliance on off-the-shelf optics and a single visible-light science camera versus the final design's improved throughput and capabilities due to the use of custom optics and dual-band, visible and near-infrared imaging. In this paper, we present the instrument design and on-sky closed-loop testing of KAPAO-Alpha as well as our plans for KAPAO-Prime. The primarily undergraduate-education nature of our partner institutions, both public (Sonoma State University) and private (Pomona and Harvey Mudd Colleges), has enabled us to engage physics, astronomy, and engineering undergraduates in all phases of this project. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0960343.