Robo-AO Kitt Peak: Status of the system and deployment of a sub-electron readnoise IR camera to detect low-mass companions

TL;DR

This paper reports on the deployment and recent developments of Robo-AO at Kitt Peak, including the commissioning of a low-noise IR camera and performance improvements to enhance detection of low-mass stellar objects.

Contribution

It introduces a new sub-electron readnoise IR camera and discusses performance tuning of the adaptive optics system for low-mass object detection.

Findings

Successful commissioning of a sub-electron IR camera.

Enhanced AO system sensitivity for low-mass companions.

Ongoing visible-light science programs complement IR developments.

Abstract

We have started an initial three-year deployment of Robo-AO at the 2.1-m telescope at Kitt Peak, Arizona as of November 2015. We report here on the project status and two new developments with the Robo-AO KP system: the commissioning of a sub-electron readnoise SAPHIRA near-infrared camera, which will allow us to widen the scope of possible targets to low-mass stellar and substellar objects; and, performance analysis and tuning of the adaptive optics system, which will improve the sensitivity to these objects. Commissioning of the near-infrared camera and optimizing the AO performance occur in parallel with ongoing visible-light science programs.