The adaptive optics system for the Gemini South telescope, currently in the design phase, consists of several major subsystem. The largest subsystem, called the AO module, contains most of the optics and electronics and is mounted on one of the Cassegrain instrument ports. The initial system will be a conventional laser guide star AO system, but the plan is to eventually expand it to a multi-conjugate system. The system is being designed to readily add the components necessary to upgrade to a multi-conjugate system. This paper describes the design challenges encountered and solutions that were derived for the AO module design. The complexity of the multi-conjugate version is illustrated, including optical, mechanical, electronic and controls issues.

Date Published: 7 February 2003
PDF: 14 pages
Proc. SPIE 4839, Adaptive Optical System Technologies II, (7 February 2003);

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4839:
Adaptive Optical System Technologies II
Peter L. Wizinowich; Domenico Bonaccini, Editor(s)