Automated Adaptive Optics

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development and implementation of fully automated adaptive optics systems, exemplified by Robo-AO, to enable large-scale, high-resolution astronomical surveys and rapid follow-up observations.

Contribution

It presents the first fully automated adaptive optics system, Robo-AO, and demonstrates its efficiency and capability to conduct large-scale, high-resolution astronomical surveys.

Findings

Automated system observed 125 objects in succession in 2012.

Typical night involves 200-250 automated observations.

Robo-AO can address follow-up needs of large surveys.

Abstract

Large area surveys will dominate the forthcoming decades of astronomy and their success requires characterizing thousands of discoveries through additional observations at higher spatial or spectral resolution, and at complementary cadences or periods. Only the full automation of adaptive optics systems will enable high-acuity, high-sensitivity follow-up observations of several tens of thousands of these objects per year, maximizing on-sky time. Automation will also enable rapid response to target-of-opportunity events within minutes, minimizing the time between discovery and characterization. In June 2012, we demonstrated the first fully automated operation of an astronomical adaptive optics system by observing 125 objects in succession with the Robo-AO system. Efficiency has increased ever since, with a typical night comprising 200-250 automated observations at the visible diffraction limit. By observing tens of thousands of targets in the largest-ever adaptive-optics surveys, Robo-AO has demonstrated the ability to address the follow-up needs of current and future large astronomical surveys.