Development of an Infrared Optimized Adaptive Optics System for the Baade 6.5m Telescope

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The project will duplicate the highly successful Multiple Mirror Telescope chopping/adaptive optics membrane deformable secondary mirror for the Magellan I telescope, where it will provide a new and versatile f/15 Cassegrain focal station. Its first use will be as the basis for a thermal infrared chopping/tip-tilt imaging system producing diffraction-limited, high-Strehl (70%) mid-infrared (5-25 micron) astronomy. The system will uniquely allow deep nulling interferometry, nearly full-sky tip-tilt guiding, and nodding/chopping in the southern hemisphere. After the successful deployment of this secondary we will quickly upgrade its wavefront sensor to allow high speed high-resolution 0.8-5 micron adaptive optics science.