NaCo News

On this page, we list the main changes that affected the instrument and this web site.

• June 24th, 2008: p82 phase II officially starts. The new version of the p82 manual has been posted on the web. Among the news:
  1. SAM: the Mode has been succesfully commissioned. We are working on the templates.

     Sparse aperture mask interferometry uses special aperture masks in the pupil wheel to obtain the very highest angular resolution at the diffraction limit. When used correctly, these masks transform the single 8-m telescope pupil into a sparse interferometer array, and it is therefore necessary to understand the principles of optical interferometry and in particular the recovery of complex Fourier data (amplitudes and phases) from the Fizeau interference patterns that result.

     SAM is offered in VM only. Users with approved proposals are encouraged to contact the IS at naco@eso.org in advance of their run to discuss the details.

  2. Cube mode - The mode is in advance stage of characterization.

     This mode is a variant of the of the burst mode already offered with VISIR and ISAAC. In this mode, a data-cube with each single DIT frame is saved. This mode is particularly interesting for lucky-imaging type of observations, where one wants to select the best frames out of a set before co-adding them. The mode is not suited for time resolved applications, since we have no way to time-stamp each single DIT frame and we occasionally lose frames. There are stringent limitations to the use of this mode, in particular it will only be offered in combination with basic imaging (no LGS).

     This mode is only offered for VM proposals. Users who requested it are encouraged to contact the IS at naco@eso.org in advance of their run to discuss the details.

  3. Pupil tracking mode for imaging applications (includes 4QPM coronagraphy and SDI+) - Tentatively offered, pending commissioning. We are working on the implementation and preparing final on-sky tests.

     Pupil tracking mode is being implemented to support SAM, but given the demand from the community, it will be tentatively offered for use with imaging and 4QPM coronagraphic observations. In this mode, the telescope, independently from NaCo, tracks the pupil instead of the field. This new tracking mode opens the possibility to do Angular Differential Imaging (ADI), a high contrast imaging technique that reduces quasi-static speckle noise and facilitates the detection of nearby companions.

     Given its complexity and novelty, pupil tracking is only offered in VM. Users with approved proposals are encouraged to contact the IS at naco@eso.org in advance of their run to discuss the details.

  4. Chopping in Lp and Mp (imaging) will be offered again in P82'. There are more stringent limitations on the brightness of the AO star and on the size of the chop throw. Check the user's manual for details.
• March 19th, 2008: a bug in the ETC caused off-axis S/N values to be systematically overestimated (that is, cases where the target and AO reference bjects differed). This bug only affected the imaging ETC as called via the NAOS Preparation Software (NAOS-PS). The bug has bee fixed.
• February, 2008: News in the Call for Proposals P82. New modes tentatively offered (pending commissioning): cube mode in imaging (NGS only), Sparse Aperture Interferometric Masks, Pupil Tracking with imaging and coronagraphy.
• December 22, 2007: new version of User's Manual and Web Pages for Phase 2 of P81 publicly released.
• September 23-24, 2007: commissioned the SDI+4 mode: SDI+ with Coronagraphic 4QPM_H
• August 24, 2007: News in the Call for Proposals P81
• August 1, 2007; New IOT settles in.

Old News

• April 03, 2007: Laser guide star facility: observing policies
• March 15, 2007: Novelties in the Call for Proposal P80
• February 28, 2006: Novelties in the Call for Proposal P78
• February 23, 2006: Latest important news about chopping
• February 16, 2006: Latest news about the SDI

• June 1, 2005: Important last minute news for service and visitor, concerning the SDI observations.
• January 6, 2005: Updated user manual for period 75 service and visitor mode observation runs.
• October 21, 2004: Important news for service and visitor, concerning chopping & SDI observations.
• August 8, 2004: Updated user manual for period 74 service and visitor mode observation runs.
• June 1, 2004: A new Aladdin3 array recently installed in CONICA, becomes operational.