Implementation of a laser traffic control system supporting laser guide star adaptive optics on Mauna Kea

Douglas Summers; Brooke Gregory; Paul J. Stomski Jr.; Allan Brighton; Richard J. Wainscoat; Peter L. Wizinowich; Wolfgang Gaessler; Jacques Sebag; Corinne Boyer; Tom Vermeulen; Tony J. Denault; Doug A. Simons; Hideki Takami; Christian Veillet

doi:10.1117/12.459062

7 February 2003 Implementation of a laser traffic control system supporting laser guide star adaptive optics on Mauna Kea

Douglas Summers, Brooke Gregory, Paul J. Stomski Jr., Allan Brighton, Richard J. Wainscoat, Peter L. Wizinowich, Wolfgang Gaessler, Jacques Sebag, Corinne Boyer, Tom Vermeulen, Tony J. Denault, Doug A. Simons, Hideki Takami, Christian Veillet

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4839, Adaptive Optical System Technologies II; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459062
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

The idea of achieving Adaptive Optics over the majority of the sky using sodium laser guide stars is reaching maturity on Mauna Kea. However, Mauna Kea is a shared astronomical site with 13 institutions and 11 telescopes. Coordination between observatories with laser guide stars and facilities without laser guide stars must be accomplished to prevent sodium light (Rayleigh scatter and the laser guide star itself) from interfering with science observations at the non-laser facilities. To achieve this goal, a technical working group was organized with participation from several Mauna Kea observatories to discuss and agree upon an automated system for avoiding laser “beam” collisions with other telescopes. This paper discussed the implementation of a Laser Traffic Control System (LTCS) for Mauna Kea including a brief history of the coordination effort, technical requirements and details surrounding implementation of laser beam avoidance software, critical configuration parameters, algorithmic approaches, test strategies used during deployment, and recommendations based upon experiences to date for others intending to implement similar systems.

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Douglas Summers, Brooke Gregory, Paul J. Stomski Jr., Allan Brighton, Richard J. Wainscoat, Peter L. Wizinowich, Wolfgang Gaessler, Jacques Sebag, Corinne Boyer, Tom Vermeulen, Tony J. Denault, Doug A. Simons, Hideki Takami, and Christian Veillet "Implementation of a laser traffic control system supporting laser guide star adaptive optics on Mauna Kea", Proc. SPIE 4839, Adaptive Optical System Technologies II, (7 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459062

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