Objectives of the Joint Research Activity 1
The primary goal of this Joint Research Activity (JRA) is to develop the concepts, designs and technologies required for the next generation of Adaptive Optics (AO) capabilities which will equip large telescopes over the next decade. Three possible AO systems will be investigated in parallel, Natural Guide Star (NGS) Extreme AO (XAO); Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) with multiple Fields of View; and multi Laser Guide Star (LGS) systems.
The participants will perform feasibility studies, develop prototypes and support R&D for the enabling technologies. R&D will be pursued for high accuracy and high dynamic range wavefront sensing, high computing power real time computer (RTC) hardware and software, MCAO control theory, large deformable mirrors, high-density piezo stack deformable mirrors, high-density large stroke micro-mirrors and associated control electronics.
The Chair of the Adaptive Optics Joint Research Activity is N Hubin (ESO): nhubin @ eso.orgNext JRA 1 General Meeting March 30 & 31st 2006
at La Palma
Management of JRA1
This Joint Research Activity is coordinated by the European Southern Observatory and involves 8 institutes in Europe:- European Southern Observatory (coordinator)
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri
- University of Durham
- Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers (INSU/CNRS)
- Max-Planck Institut für Astronomie (MPIA)
- Office National d'Etude et de Recherches Aerospatiales (ONERA)
- Nederlandse Onderzoekschool voor Astronomie (NOVA)
- Gran Telescopio de Canarias
(GRANTECAN)
The organisation chart of the JRA is described here
The official start of OPTICON and therefore of JRA1 was January 1st 2004.
The deliverables associated to each Workpackages of the JRA1 are listed here and corresponding milestones listed here
Relevant Management documentation is listed in the following table
The official start of OPTICON and therefore of JRA1 was January 1st 2004.
The deliverables associated to each Workpackages of the JRA1 are listed here and corresponding milestones listed here
Relevant Management documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Detailed
predicted cost breakdown and commitments for the JRA 1 |
April 2004 |
.xls |
Y |
| Detailed
schedule for the JRA 1 |
April 2004 |
.mpp |
Y |
| Template
for Manpower time report for 2004 (NEW!) |
Nov 2004 |
.xls |
N |
| Template
for Hardware expenditure report for 2004 (NEW!) |
Nov 2004 |
.xls |
N |
| Kick-off
meeting Agenda Action list |
March 2004 March 2004 |
.doc .doc |
N N |
| OPTICON contractual description of Work |
March 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| JRA1 presentation
at OPTICON KO meeting in Ghent (April 1st and 2nd 2004) |
April 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Kick-off meeting: Objectives
of the JRA1 (presentation from ESO) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
Y |
| Kick-off:
Project Control (ESO) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
Y |
| General meeting 1 Agenda Action list |
Sept. 2004 |
.doc .doc |
N N |
| General Meeting: 1 JRA1 Management
(ESO) |
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt .ppt |
N N |
| Executive progress report 1 to OPTICON
board |
Sept. 2004 |
.doc |
N |
| Template for Manpower time report
for 2005 (NEW!) |
Jan.2005 |
.xls |
N |
| Template for Hardware expenditure
report for 2005 (NEW!) |
Jan.2005 |
.xls |
N |
| Status of JRA1 expenditures and projections
as per period 1 report |
Jan.2005 |
.xls |
Y |
| Draft report of JRA1 for period 1 |
Jan.2005 |
.doc |
Y |
VLT Planet FInder Feasibility and conceptual design
studies:
|
Dec. 2004 Dec. 2004 |
.zip .zip |
Y Y |
| OPTICON report for year 1 (2004) |
April 2005 |
.doc |
Y |
| General Meeting: 2 JRA1 Management (ESO) |
July 2005 |
.ppt |
Y |
| General Meeting 2: Action list |
July 2005 |
.doc |
Y |
| General Meeting 2: Agenda |
July 2005 |
.pdf |
Y |
| Executive progress report 2 to OPTICON board |
July 2005 |
.pdf |
Y |
Adaptive Optics System Studies
The purpose of this workpackage (WP 2) is to perform
system and design studies of the next generation of Adaptive
Optics systems for the existing 8-10 m telescopes in Europe. The
following systems will be studied:
- Extreme Adaptive Optics mainly dedicated to Planet search
- Laser and/or Natural Guide Star Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics
- Multi-object wavefront sensors
- Multiple FOV MCAO with Natural Guide Star
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Kick-off
Meeting: Simulations of 2nd generation AO system for the VLT (ESO) |
March 2004 |
.ppt | N |
| General Meeting 1: Status
of 2nd Gen. AO systems for VLT: Planet Finder, MUSE-AO, HAWK-I AO
(ESO) |
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt .ppt |
N N |
| General Meeting 2: Status of XAO simulations
(ESO) |
July 2005 |
.ppt |
Y |
Extreme Adaptive
Optics System design study
The purpose of this workpackage (WP2.1) is to perform
feasibility studies and conceptual design for an Extreme Adaptive
Optics system dedicated to searching for extra solar planets.
Definition of the high level specification of all key components
required for this system and intended to be developed within this
JRA (Deformable mirror, wavefront sensor, real time computer control).
If the feasibility study is successful, a preliminary design will
be pursued.
Relevant documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| VLT Planet
Finder Phase A study technical specifications and Statement of
Work |
May 2003 |
.pdf |
N |
| VLT Planet Finder Milestone
1: ESO-OPTICON inputs |
Dec. 2003 |
.ppt |
N |
| Real Time computer Platform
for VLT Planet Finder |
Dec. 2003 |
.ppt |
N |
| Software Standards for
VLT Planet Finder |
Dec. 2003 |
.ppt |
N |
| VLT Planet
Finder Science case Specifications |
Feb. 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| Kick-off Meeting: CHaracterising
Exoplanet by Opto-IR Polarimetry and Spectroscopy (CHEOPS:
MPIA) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Kick-off Meeting: VLT
Planet Finder feasibility study (INSU-LAOG) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| 256x256
CCD detector technical specification issue 1 (VLT-SPE-ESO-14690-3320)
(ESO-INSU) |
July 2004 |
.pdf |
N |
| 256x256
CCD detector Statement of Work issue 1 (VLT-SOW-ESO-14690-3383)
(ESO-INSU) |
July 2004 |
.pdf |
N |
| JRA1 General Meeting 1: Status
of the Planet Finder Conceptual design study (MPIA, LAOG) |
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt .ppt .ppt |
N N N |
| Executive summary of the Planet
Finder phase A study of MPIA and LAOG |
Jan. 2005 |
.pdf |
Y Y |
| 240x240 CCD detector technical specification
issue 2 (VLT-SPE-ESO-14690-3320) (ESO-INSU) 240x240 CCD detector Statement of Work issue 3 (VLT-SOW-ESO-14690-3383) (ESO-INSU) |
March 2005 March 2005 |
.doc .doc |
Y Y |
General Meeting 2:
|
July 2005 |
.ppt .ppt |
Y Y |
Laser / Natural Guide Star Multi Conjugate Adaptive Optics design studies
The purpose of this workpackage (WP2.2) is to perform
Laser/Natural Guide Star (L/NGS) MCAO designs for the VLT:
Relevant documentation is listed in the following
table- Conceptual and preliminary design of a Laser based ground layer Adaptive Optics system for MUSE. This system should be able to provide a large (1') FOV correction at short wavelengths.
- Conceptual and preliminary design of a Laser based ground layer Adaptive Optics system for HAWK-I. This system should be able to provide a large (8') FOV correction at Near IR wavelengths
- Feasibility and conceptual design of a very large FOV multi-WFS AO system: FALCON
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Second Generation Instrument
MCAO Study - FALCON- Statement of Work |
Feb.2003 |
.pdf |
N |
| Kick-off Meeting: L/NGS
MCAO Status and Plans(ESO) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Kick-off Meeting: NOVA
contribution to MUSE (NOVA-Leiden)) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| MUSE Adaptive
Optics Top Level requirements (ESO-Leiden) |
March 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| MUSE Adaptive Optics
Technical Specifications (ESO-Leiden) |
Feb. 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| MUSE Ground Layer Adaptive
Optics System Analysis Report (at Conceptual design Review) (ESO-Leiden) |
March 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| MUSE Ground Layer Adaptive
Optics Conceptual design report (ESO-Leiden) |
March 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| MUSE Ground Layer Adaptive
Optics Management Plan (at Conceptual Design Review) (ESO) |
March 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| MUSE Ground
Layer Adaptive Optics Conceptual design review presentation
(ESO) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| General
Meeting 1: Status of GLAO conceptual design studies (ESO, Leiden) |
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt .ppt |
N N |
| HAWK-I AO
: Ground Layer Adaptive Optics: Top Level requirements (ESO) |
Nov. 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| HAWK-I AO : Ground Layer Adaptive Optics:
Conceptual design report (ESO) |
Nov. 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| HAWK-I AO : Ground Layer Adaptive Optics:
Analysis report (ESO) |
Nov. 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| HAWK-I AO : Ground Layer Adaptive Optics:
Management plan report (ESO) |
Nov. 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| HAWK-I AO Ground Layer Adaptive Optics Conceptual
design review presentation (ESO) |
Nov. 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| FALCON strawman design and analysis (INSU-Paris) |
Nov.2004 |
.pdf |
Y Y Y |
| JRA1 General Meeting 2: GRAAL for HAWK-I
and GALACSI for MUSE (ESO) MUSE- ASSIST & GLAO update (NOVA) |
July 2005 |
.ppt .ppt |
Y Y |
Multi-object WFS prototype for GTC
The purpose of this workpackage (WP2.3) is to design
and develop a prototype of a Multi-object wavefront sensor for
the Gran Telescopio Canarias
(GTC) in view of its MCAO system. The prototype will be a
laboratory demonstration.
Relevant documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Kick-off meeting: The
GTC Multi-Object WFS prototype presentation at Kick-off |
March 2004 |
.pdf |
N |
| General
meeting 1: Status of the GTC multi-object WFS (GTC) |
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| GTC Multi-Object Curvature
Wavefront Sensor Report |
March 2005 |
.pdf |
Y |
Multiple FOV MCAO with Natural Guide Star for LBT
The purpose of this workpackage (WP2.4) is to design
and develop a Multiple Fields of view WFS for the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT).
The Prototype will be tested on the sky.
Relevant documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Kick-off meeting: LBT
Multiple Field of View NGS WFS (MPIA-INAF) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| General meeting 1: Status of LBT Multi- FOV NGS WFS (MPIA-INAF) | Sept. 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Design and analysis
of the LBT multi-object wavefront sensor (INAF-MPIA) |
Nov.2004 |
.doc |
Y Y |
| General Meeting 2: Multiple FoV NGS Wavefront
sensor for LBT (INAF-MPIA) |
July 2005 |
.ppt |
Y |
Enabling Technology for Adaptive Optics
This Workpackage (WP 3) contains all Research &
Development activities required to support the development
of AO and MCAO systems described in WP 2. It includes the following
items
- Real Time Computer Platform
- Optimal control for MCAO
- Piezo Deformable Mirror & drive electronics
- VLT Adaptive Secondary design
- Large convex thin shell
- Micro- Deformable mirrors
- High Order WFS Experiment
Real Time Computer Platform
This Workpackage (WP 3.1) will develop the second Generation
of Real Time Computer (RTC) platform for XAO and MCAO systems:
A new hardware and software real time control architecture will
be designed and prototyped. Performance according to WP 2.1 and
2.2 will be demonstrated.
Relevant documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Kick-off Meeting: 2nd
generation of Real Time Computer (ESO) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Kick-off
Meeting: Use of FPGA forReal Time Control (U. Durham) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Real Time computer Platform
for VLT Planet Finder |
Dec. 2003 |
.ppt |
N |
| General Meeting 1: Status
of 2nd generation Real TIme Computer Platform (ESO) |
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| General Meeting 1: Use of FPGA forReal
Time Control (U. Durham) |
Sept. 2004 | .ppt |
N |
| General Meeting 2: Standard Platform
for Adaptive Optics Real Time Applications (SPARTA) (ESO) Use for FPGA for Real Time Control Design (Durham) |
July 2005 |
.ppt .ppt |
Y Y |
Optimal Control & high performance WFS for Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics
This Workpackage (WP 3.2) will develop optimal control
methods for MCAO systems: A theoretical study and experimental
demonstration of an optimal MCAO control will be performed on
the ESO MCAO demonstrator.
This WP includes also a theoretical study and experimental validation
of high performance WFS dedicated to MCAO.
Relevant documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Kick-off Meeting: Optimal
control method for MCAO (ONERA) |
March 2004 |
.pdf |
N |
| Kick-off
Meeting: High Performance WFS for MCAO (ONERA) |
March 2004 |
.pdf |
N |
| General Meeting 1: Optimal
Control Methods and High Performance WFS for MCAO Systems (ESO) |
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| General Meeting 1: Optimal Control
Methods & High Performance WFS for MCAO Systems |
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Optimal Control Methods and high performance
WFS for MCAO systems SOW (ESO-ONERA) |
Dec. 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| Sky Coverage in MCAO (ONERA) |
Dec. 2004 |
.pdf |
N |
| General Meeting 2: MAD Status (SCAO & GLAO)
(ESO) |
July 2005 |
.ppt |
Y |
| General Meeting 2: Optimal Control method for
MCAO (ONERA) Performance of wavefront measurements for GLAO (ONERA) |
July 2005 |
.ppt .ppt |
Y Y |
Piezo Deformable Mirror & drive electronics
This Workpackage (WP 3.3 & WP 3.4) will develop and
test a prototype of a Piezo stack Deformable Mirror with more than1200 actuators.
A demonstration prototype of a Piezo stack deformable mirror control electronic
able to drive the deformable mirror in WP3.3 will be developed and tested.
(NB The prototype will not necessarily control the 1200 actuators.)
Relevant documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Kick-off Meeting: High
order piezo deformable mirror for XAO (ESO) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| High Order
Deformable Mirror Specifications and Statement of Work Issue 1 (VLT-SPE-ESO-14690-3375) |
July 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| General Meeting 1: Status
of high-order piezo deformable mirror (ESO) |
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| High Order Deformable Mirror Specifications
and Statement of Work Issue 2 (VLT-SPE-ESO-14690-3375) |
March 2005 |
.doc |
Y |
| General Meeting 2: High Order Piezo Deformable
Mirror (Specs and Status) (ESO) |
July 2005 |
.ppt |
Y |
VLT Adaptive secondary design Study
This Workpackage (WP 3.4) will perform the feasibility, conceptual, preliminary and final design of the VLT adaptive secondary. Sub-systems prototypes will be developed as required to overcome issues identified during the design phase.Relevant documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Kick-off Meeting: VLT
Adaptive Secondary Study Plans,specs and proposed solutions
(Microgate) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Kick-off Meeting: VLT Adaptive Secondary Design Study (INAF-Arcetri) | March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Development of an Adaptive
Secondary at the VLT (ESO Presentation at Kick-Off) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Technical Specification
for the design study of an Adaptive secondary Mirror for the VLT Issue
1 (VLT-SPE-ESO-11250-3068) (ESO) |
May 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| Statement of Work for a design
study of an Adaptive Secondary Mirror for the VLT Issue 1 (VLT-SOW-ESO-11250-3069)
(ESO) |
May 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| Interface Control Document VLT- Adaptive
Secondary (ESO) |
May 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
General Meeting 1:
|
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt .ppt .ppt .ppt |
N N N N |
| Optical figuring specifications for
thin shell to be used in Adaptive Telescope mirror (INAF) |
Nov. 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
| Adaptive mirror design tool (INAF) |
Nov.2004 |
.xls |
Y |
General Meeting 2:
|
July 2005 |
.ppt .ppt .ppt .ppt .ppt .ppt |
Y Y Y Y Y Y |
| VLT Deformable Secondary Mirror Conceptual design
study (Microgate/ ADS/ INAF) |
July 2005 |
.zip |
Y |
Large Convex thin shell for large DM
This Workpackage (WP3.6) will design, manufacture and test a large (~1m) convex glass shell for a VLT like large deformable mirror.Relevant documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Kick-off Meeting: Demonstration
of a large Convex glass shell (INSU-LAM) |
March 2004 |
.pdf |
N |
| General
Meeting 1:Demonstration of a Large Convex Glass shell (INSU-LAM) |
Sept. 2004 |
.pps |
N |
| Specification of the
Thin Shell for the VLT Adaptive Secondary (draft) (INAF) |
Nov. 2004 |
.pdf |
Y |
General Meeting 2:
|
July 2005 July 2005 |
.ppt .ppt |
Y Y |
| Statement of Work for the Manufacturing
of a 1.1 m Glass Thin Shell (VLT-SOW-ESO-11255-3621) (ESO) |
June 2005 |
.pdf |
Y |
Micro-Deformable Mirrors (MDM)
This Workpackage (WP 3.7) will perform a full design
and develop prototypes of a 2k actuator and low order MDM. Corresponding
control electronics will be designed and prototyped. Testing
of these prototypes will be done on a best effort basis depending
on remaining funds.
Relevant documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Kick-off Meeting: 2K
actuator deformable mirror (INSU-LAOG) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Kick-off
Meeting: MOEMS deformable mirrors characterisation and plans
(INSU-LAM) |
March 2004 |
.pdf |
N |
| General Meeting 1: 2K
micro deformable mirror (INSU-LAOG) |
Sept. 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Test report of the Magnetic 60 actuator
MDM (INSU-LAOG) |
Nov.2004 |
.doc .jpg .jpg |
Y Y Y |
| Request for Information on 2k actuator Micro
Deformable Mirror (INSU) |
Nov. 2004 |
.doc |
Y |
| 2k Actuator MDM specifications (draft) (INSU) |
Nov.2004 |
.doc |
Y |
General Meeting 2:
|
July 2005 |
.ppt .ppt |
Y Y |
High Order wavefront sensor experiment
This Workpackage (WP3.8) will design and develop a high
order wavefront sensor experimental laboratory bench. This bench
will include a Pyramid and Shack Hartmann wave front sensors and
will be used to evaluate their relative performance in open and
closed loop for XAO systems.
Relevant documentation is listed in the following table
| Description of the documents |
Date |
Type |
Prot. |
| Kick-off Meeting: High
Order WFS test bench (ESO) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Kick-off
Meeting: High Order WFS experimental Study (INAF) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
| Kick-off Meeting: Design
Possibilities for a very High order Shack Hartmann WFS (U. Durham) |
March 2004 |
.ppt |
N |
General Meeting 1:
|
Sept.2004 |
.ppt .ppt .ppt |
N N N |
| High Order Test bench (HOT):
Top Level Requirements (ESO-INAF-Durham) |
Sept.2004 |
.pdf |
N |
General Meeting 2:
|
July 2005 |
.ppt .ppt .ppt |
Y Y Y |
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Last update: April 8th, 2005
