Science readiness of the Gemini MCAO system: GeMS

The Gemini Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics System (GeMS) began its on-sky commissioning in January 2011. The system provides high order wideeld corrections using a constellation of ve Laser Guide Stars. In December 2011, commissioning culminated in images with a FWHM of 80±2mas at 1.65 microns (H band) over an 87 x 87 arcsecond eld of view. The rst images have already demonstrated the scienti c potential of GeMS, and after more than a year of commissioning GeMS is nally close to completion and ready for science. This paper presents a general status of the GeMS project and summarizes the achievements made during more than a year of commissioning. The characterization of GeMS performance is presented in a companion paper: GeMS on-sky results , Rigaut et al.1 Here we report on the sub-systems' performance, discuss current limitations and present proposed upgrades. The integration of GeMS into the observatory operational scheme is detailed. Finally, we present the plans for next year's operations with GeMS.

[1]  D. Bonaccini Calia,et al.  The ESO transportable LGS Unit for measurements of the LGS photon return and other experiments , 2012, Other Conferences.

[2]  Gustavo Arriagada,et al.  The Gemini South MCAO laser guide star facility: getting ready for first light , 2008, Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[3]  Julian C. Christou,et al.  Increasing sky coverage with the Gemini North ALTAIR/LGS AO system , 2012, Other Conferences.

[4]  M. Lombini,et al.  The Gemini MCAO System GeMS: nearing the end of a lab-story , 2010, Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[5]  Gerard Rousset,et al.  Visible wavefront sensor development. , 1987 .

[6]  G. Perez,et al.  The Gemini MCAO infrastructure: laser service enclosure and support structure , 2008, Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[7]  Eleazar R. Carrasco,et al.  Results from the commissioning of the Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI) at Gemini South Observatory , 2012, Other Conferences.

[8]  Francois Rigaut,et al.  Atmospheric turbulence profiling using multiple laser star wavefront sensors , 2012 .

[9]  Gustavo Arriagada,et al.  The Gemini MCAO bench: system overview and lab integration , 2008, Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[10]  Francois Rigaut,et al.  Identification and calibration of the interaction matrix parameters for AO and MCAO systems , 2012, Other Conferences.

[11]  Serge Meimon,et al.  LIFT: a focal-plane wavefront sensor for real-time low-order sensing on faint sources. , 2010, Optics letters.

[12]  François Rigaut,et al.  Gemini South MCAO on-sky results , 2011 .

[13]  Francois Rigaut,et al.  Design of frequency-based controllers for vibration mitigation at the Gemini-South telescope , 2012, Other Conferences.

[14]  Benoit Neichel,et al.  LIFT, a noise-effective low order focal-plane sensor: from theory to full experimental validation , 2012, Other Conferences.

[15]  Andrew Serio,et al.  Gemini South multi-conjugate adaptive optics (GeMS) laser guide star facility on-sky performance results , 2012, Other Conferences.

[16]  G Rousset,et al.  Improvement of Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor measurement for extreme adaptive optics. , 2004, Optics letters.