Adaptive Optics Programme for the Thai National Observatory

地球动荡的大气层模糊了天体的图像。自适应光学（AO）可以用来抵消地球大气的有害影响，恢复清晰的图像。只有通过开发先进的光学仪器，如AO系统，我们才能实现下一代的天文发现。在此，我们提出了英国杜伦大学和泰国国家天文研究所之间的合作项目。该提案不仅旨在加强泰国和英国仪器界之间的联系，而且还旨在通过共同开发AO和湍流剖面仪器，在泰国建立国内先进的天文仪器能力。AO系统开发提供了广泛领域的经验，包括光学计量，机器视觉，计算机自动化和高速计算。这些技能在泰国经济的许多部门都有很高的需求，其中许多先进的技术知识和仪器目前都是获得许可或从海外公司购买的。拟议的研究包括使用在世界上一些主要天文台开发的先进技术来全面表征泰国国家天文台（TNO）站点的大气湍流。该项目的这一部分将涉及英国和泰国的研究人员共同开发新的大气特征仪器，这些仪器将部署在泰国北部的望远镜站点。该合作将需要以有效的方式捕获和处理大型数据集，进一步培训NARIT的泰国研究人员获取、处理和分析AO数据。为了协助培训研究人员使用和发展AO系统，我们还将在泰国举办一个讲习班，重点是使用AO系统的计算机建模。AO系统模拟是复杂的，难以理解，运行和修改，我们将提供如何建立和分析这些模拟的输出的实践培训。为泰国境内的工作人员和研究人员提供AO内使用的技术和技术方面的培训是作为海外发展援助预算的一部分提供资金的，其目标是提高先进光学技术的技能，以支持发展中的泰国经济中的新工业应用。该项目还通过与NARIT在泰国国家天文台联合运行的仪器方案，为泰国提供了经验丰富的AO系统用户和开发人员。最后，该项目允许英国和泰国的研究人员进行大气湍流特性的基础研究，并开发可能应用于其他望远镜和天文学以外领域的新型仪器。

The Earth's turbulent atmosphere blurs the images of astronomical objects. Adaptive Optics (AO) can be used to counteract the detrimental effects of the Earth's atmosphere and restore sharp images. It is only by developing advanced optical instrumentation, such as AO systems, that we can enable the next generation of astronomical discoveries. Here, we propose a collaborative project between Durham University, UK, and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand. This proposal not only aims to strengthen links between Thai and UK instrumentation communities, but also through the joint development of the AO and turbulence profiling instrumentation, build a domestic advanced astronomical instrumentation capability within Thailand. AO system development provides experience within a huge range of fields, including optical metrology, machine vision, computer automation and high-speed computing. Such skills are in high demand within many sectors of Thai economy where much of the advanced technical knowledge and instrumentation is currently licensed or purchased from companies overseas.The proposed research includes using advanced techniques developed at some of the world's premier observatories to fully characterise the atmospheric turbulence at Thai National Observatory (TNO) site. This part of the project will involve UK and Thai researchers working together on the development of new atmospheric characterisation instrumentation that will be deployed at the telescope site in northern Thailand. Large datasets will need to be captured and processed in an efficient manor by the collaboration, further training Thai researchers at NARIT in AO data acquisition, handling and analysis.To assist with the training of researchers in the use and development of AO systems, we will also run a workshop in Thailand that focuses on the use of computer modelling of AO systems. AO system simulations are complex to understand, run and modify and we will provide hands-on training in how to set up and analyse the outputs from such simulations.The training of staff and researchers within Thailand in the techniques and technologies used within AO is funded as part of the overseas development aid budget, with the goal of increasing skills in advanced optical technologies that can support new industrial applications within the developing Thai economy. This project also provides Thailand with an experienced AO system users and developers through the instrumentation programme run jointly with NARIT at the Thai National Observatory. Finally, this program allows UK and Thai researchers to undertake fundamental research into the properties of atmospheric turbulence and the development of novel instrumentation that can potentially be applied to other telescopes and fields outside astronomy.