Facility Class Guide Star Laser Systems for Astronomical Adaptive Optics

该奖项支持双子座天文台、美国空军星火光学靶场和凯克天文台合作开发用于自适应光学制导恒星的可靠的钠波长激光器。激光用来激发地球大气层钠层中的钠D线，它会产生一颗“人造引导星”，用来作为点源测量大气引起的入射恒星波前的像差。这项技术最初是由国防部开发的，现已得到验证。该计划的目的是推进可用激光功率的最先进水平，并为可靠、低成本的激光器提供设计，该激光器可以在许多天文台运行，而不需要专门和昂贵的技术支持。该发展计划将由工业企业在合作机构和专家咨询委员会的指导下实施。

AbstractThis award supports a collaborative effort among the Gemini Observatory, the U.S. Air Force Starfire Optical Range, and the Keck Observatory to develop reliable sodium wavelength lasers for use as adaptive optics guide stars. Used to excite the sodium D lines in the sodium layer of the Earth's atmosphere, the laser creates an "artificial guide star" that can be used as a point source to measure the aberrations in the incoming stellar wavefront caused by the atmosphere. The technique, originally developed by the Department of Defense, has been proven. The purpose of this program is to advance the state-of-the-art in available laser power and to provide a design for a reliable, low-cost laser that could be operated at many observatories without the necessity for specialized and expensive technical support. The development program will be carried out by industrial firms under the guidance of the collaborating institutions and an expert advisory committee.