Design of a precision calibration unit for Keck NIRC2 AO instrument

Zeren Lin; Tarun Kumar; Xun Chen; Jessica Lu; Peter Wizinowich; Scott Lilley; Ed Wetherell; Nicholas McConnell

doi:10.1117/12.2561958

2 October 2024 Design of a precision calibration unit for Keck NIRC2 AO instrument

Zeren Lin, Tarun Kumar, Xun Chen, Jessica Lu, Peter Wizinowich, Scott Lilley, Ed Wetherell, Nicholas McConnell

Proceedings Volume 11448, Adaptive Optics Systems VII; 1144879 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2561958
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2020, Online Only

Conference Poster

Abstract

High-precision astrometry has the potential to address questions in planet formation, black hole science, Galactic structure, and more. However, in order to achieve a precision of sub-milli arcseconds (mas), we need a calibration method better than the current techniques such as on-sky calibration using crowded star fields, which have a precision of ∼ 1 mas. Precision calibration unit with a regular grid of photo-lithographically manufactured pinholes combined with self-calibration techniques, on the other hand, is a new and innovative way to potentially achieve a precision of sub-mas over the entire field of view. This technique is beneficial to adaptive optic (AO) instruments for future telescopes like the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). In this work, we present our design for a new astrometric calibration unit to feed the NIRC2 AO instrument at the W. M. Keck Observatory. It allows calibration over a large field of view of 47'' × 47'', spatially dithering throughout the entire field, and 360 degree continuous rotation of the pinhole mask. Our proposed calibration unit will produce > 5 times better performance than the pinhole masks deployed in first generation AO systems. Similar design principles could be used worldwide and for the upcoming thirty meter class telescopes to meet their distortion calibration requirements.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Zeren Lin, Tarun Kumar, Xun Chen, Jessica Lu, Peter Wizinowich, Scott Lilley, Ed Wetherell, and Nicholas McConnell "Design of a precision calibration unit for Keck NIRC2 AO instrument", Proc. SPIE 11448, Adaptive Optics Systems VII, 1144879 (2 October 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2561958

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