Simulations of Adaptive Optics with a Laser Guide Star for SINFONI

Abstract

The SINFONI (SINgle Far Object Near-ir Investigation) instrumentis developed jointly by ESO, MPE and NOVA, and combines integralfield spectroscopy with adaptive optics in one instrument [1,2].The instrument will be available at ESO's VLT in 2004. The AO moduleof the instrument is based on a 60-element curvature wavefront sensor(CWS) combined with a bimorph deformable mirror. It will operatein natural (NGS) and laser guide star (LGS) mode and will feed thecorrected PSF to the near-infrared integral field spectrograph SPIFFI[2]. As part of the NOVA contribution to this project detailed simulationsof an AO system with a curvature sensor, tailored to the detailsof the SINFONI AO module, are being carried out. The aim is to developa realistic simulation of the operation of the AO module with a laserguide star generated in the mesospheric sodium layer. The outputconsists of detailed statistics of the AO system performance as wellas PSF images (at J, H, and K-band) and wavefront sensor data. Theresults will be used to support the development of algorithms forPSF reconstruction from wavefront sensor data and the developmentof an exposure time calculator. Scientific preparations for the useof the SINFONI instrument will also be supported with these simulations.