Long-exposure point spread function estimation from adaptive optics loop data

Adaptive Optics (AO) systems provide real time correction for atmospherical aberrations. They have become an indispensable tool for ground based astronomical observations. However, correction provided by AO is only partial. Further correction can be achieved using post-processing techniques. Post-processing techniques such as deconvolution rely on a good estimation of the long exposure Point Spread Function (PSF). In the case of Solar Physics obtaining a long exposure PSF can be particularly difficult due to the lack of point sources in the field of view and the highly variable seeing conditions. We present a method to estimate the long exposure PSF of an AO corrected image using AO loop data. AO closed loop data provides enough information about the residual aberrations that were not corrected by the system and about the seeing conditions present at a certain time. With this information an estimated long exposure PSF can be constructed for each captured image. The PSF can be used to deconvolve the images. We will be presenting first results of applying this method to solar images.