One of the major problems in trying to observe a faint companion from the ground comes from atmospheric turbulence. We present here a new camera capable of subtracting the effect of atmospheric turbulence on the PSF by taking simultaneous images of a star at three different wavelengths centered around the 1.6 micrometers methane absorption band typical of brown dwarfs and jovian planets. It is to be used at the adaptive optics compensated foci of the Megantic 1.6m, the CFHT 3.6m and the Gemini 8.2m telescopes. We present its design, which results from experiences at Megantic and CFHT with various techniques. Simulations predict there will be a 15 magnitude increase in sensitivity for detection of faint companions.

Date Published: 16 August 2000
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 4008, Optical and IR Telescope Instrumentation and Detectors, (16 August 2000); doi: 10.1117/12.395537

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4008:
Optical and IR Telescope Instrumentation and Detectors
Masanori Iye; Alan F. M. Moorwood, Editor(s)