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Rayleigh Scattering and Laser Spot Elongation Problems at ALFA

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Abstract

This article describes the qualitative effects of LGS spot elongation and Rayleigh scattering on ALFA wavefront sensor images.An analytical model of Rayleigh scattering and a numerical model of laser plume generation at the altitude of the Na-layer were developed. These models, integrated into ageneral AO simulation, provide the sensor sub-apertureimages. It is shown that the centroid measurement accuracyis affected by these phenomena. The simulation was made both for the ALFA system and for the VLT Nasmyth Adaptive Optics System (NAOS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Southern Observatory, Garching, Germany

    E. Viard, F. Delplancke & N. Hubin

  2. Physics Departement, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    N. Ageorges

  3. Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany

    R. Davies

Authors
  1. E. Viard
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  2. F. Delplancke
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  3. N. Hubin
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  4. N. Ageorges
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  5. R. Davies
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Correspondence to R. Davies.

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Viard, E., Delplancke, F., Hubin, N. et al. Rayleigh Scattering and Laser Spot Elongation Problems at ALFA. Experimental Astronomy 10, 123–133 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008117126814

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008117126814

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