The present work focuses on an algorithm for obtaining data on the positions of the centers of gravity of subimages of sunspots from the Shack–Hartmann sensor measurements. The analysis of the positions of the centers of gravity of subimages formed by spaced subapertures is used in determining the verical profiles of optical turbulence and, specifically, the structural constant of turbulent fluctuations of the air refractive index C2n . The characteristics of optical turbulence determine the quality of astronomical images obtained on ground-based telescopes.
The paper describes the results of measuring the structural parameters of optical turbulence for different altitudes in the atmosphere above the Large Solar Vacuum Telescope of the Baikal Astrophysical Observatory. The structural parameters of optical turbulence we estimated from the measurement data of the Shack-Hartmann sensor for individual atmospheric layers by applying the analysis of wavefront distortions in crossed optical beams. To estimate the structural parameters of optical turbulence, we propose an approach based on statistical averaging normalized dimensionless characteristics of turbulence, the Fried parameter and averaged profile of optical turbulence at a given site.
The paper presents the first results of comparative study of the optical turbulence at the sites of the Fuxian Lake Solar Observatory (FSO) and the Baikal Astrophysical Observatory (BAO). The distributions of the probability of the Fried parameter estimated from Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor measurements are analyzed.
A multi-cascade adaptive optical system for imaging and image stabilization for the Large Solar Vacuum Telescope is described. This system was created in 2017 by specialists of the V.E. Zuev Institute of Atmospheric Optics SB RAS, Tomsk, with the technical support of the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics SB RAS, Irkutsk. The system has been tested at the Large Solar Vacuum Telescope (Baikal Astrophysical Observatory) and demonstrated its efficiency. Along with the first cascade of adaptive image stabilization by a tip-tilt corrected mirror, this system employs the second imaging cascade based on correction with a flexible mirror controlled by a specialized wavefront sensor, as well as the third cascade for real-time post-detector processing of video camera frames. Reliable experimental data confirming the efficiency of the multi-cascade adaptive system for image formation and stabilization have been obtained. Three highrate digital video cameras recording simultaneously digital images with rates from 300 to 980 frames per second were used to test the system. The mirror correcting wavefront tilts and operating in a closed optical feedback loop was controlled by the specially developed software including the fast correlation tracking algorithm. The post-detector digital imaging was performed with a special software for processing of video camera frames in real time with the use of modern high-speed parallel algorithms based on the Intel MKL and IPP libraries.
We propose the concept of the new SCIDAR-based method to determine the characteristics of the atmospheric turbulent layers including its heights and strength. In this paper we discuss the possibility of the estimating of the heights of the atmospheric turbulent layers from the vertical profiles (along line of sight) of dimensionless characteristics of turbulence. The method is based on the analysis of the scintillation in crossed optical beams (with temporal lag) on the spaced subapertures of single Shack-Hartmann sensor (with field of view of order 40 arc.sec.) conjugated with the aperture.
One of the approach to calculate the characteristics of the air refractive index fluctuations along line of sight for multiconjugated adaptive optics is based on the triangulating the wavefront distortions or/and scintillation amplitudes analysis. The description of the experiments aimed to measurements of the wavefront distortions and scintillation fluctuations is given. The scheme for recovering the optical distortions (wavefront) at the different heights is discussed. The results of changes of the wavefront distortions measured by Shack-Hartmann sensor in the spaced regions of images are discussed. The results obtained may be used for estimation of the real amplitudes of the wavefront distortions in crossed optical beams at the different heights using such method as SDimm+[ 5].
The work discusses the optical turbulence structure and dynamics at the Baykal Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) site. The characteristics of the optical turbulence including Fried radius, isoplanatic angle are analyzed. Estimates of the variations of the height profiles of the air refraction index turbulent fluctuations at the Baykal Astrophysical Observatory are given. Using the mean height profile of the structure characteristic of the air refraction index turbulent fluctuations, diurnal variations of the Fried radius at the BAO site are estimated.
This paper describes the features of the two-mirror adaptive system for correcting atmospheric disturbances of the Large Solar Vacuum Telescope, developed with allowance for the correction of instrumental vibrations of telescopes in a wide amplitude-frequency range with an open siderostat supply mirror. Correction of the general slopes of the light wave front and its deformations is carried out separately. The adaptive optical system is designed to work with extended light sources (the Sun), which have a low contrast of image details.
The work discusses the spatial scales of atmospheric optical distortions including the outer scale of turbulence and the Fried radius. It is assumed that the energy spectrum of atmospheric turbulence is not limited strictly [6] and the outer scale is considered in application to astronomical telescopes. In the case when the telescope diameter is larger or comparable with the outer scale the optical distortions substantially differ from the results of the Kolmogorov model. For a given diameter it is possible to introduce a certain spatial scale at distances larger than the size of which the refractive index fluctuations no longer have a significant effect on the quality of astronomical images. Estimates of the outer scale of turbulence are reported for both a atmospheric layer from 0 up to 20 km and surface layer.
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