Correction of distortion for optimal image stacking in Wide Field Adaptive Optics: Application to GeMS data

TL;DR

This paper presents a method to correct distortions in Wide Field Adaptive Optics images, specifically applied to GeMS data, to improve high-precision astrometry and photometry.

Contribution

It introduces an inverse problem approach for optimal distortion correction in WFAO systems, demonstrated on GeMS data.

Findings

Effective distortion correction improves image quality.

Enhanced accuracy in astrometry and photometry.

Method applicable to other WFAO systems.

Abstract

The advent of Wide Field Adaptive Optics (WFAO) systems marks the beginning of a new era in high spatial resolution imaging. The newly commissioned Gemini South Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics System (GeMS) combined with the infrared camera Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI), delivers quasi diffraction-limited images over a field of 2 arc-minutes across. However, despite this excellent performance, some variable residues still limit the quality of the analyses. In particular, distortions severely affect GSAOI and become a critical issue for high-precision astrometry and photometry. In this paper, we investigate an optimal way to correct for the distortion following an inverse problem approach. Formalism as well as applications on GeMS data are presented.