NAOMI: The adaptive optics system of the Auxiliary Telescopes of the VLTI

Abstract

Context. The tip-tilt stabilisation system of the 1.8 m Auxiliary Telescopes of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer was never dimensioned for robust fringe tracking, except when atmospheric seeing conditions are excellent. Aims. Increasing the level of wavefront correction at the telescopes is expected to improve the coupling into the single-mode fibres of the instruments, and enable robust fringe tracking even in degraded conditions. Methods. We deployed a new adaptive optics module for interferometry (NAOMI) on the Auxiliary Telescopes. Results. We present its design, performance, and effect on the observations that are carried out with the interferometric instruments.