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Atmospheric turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere significantly impacts the performance of ground-based telescopes. Adaptive Optics (AO) has emerged as an indispensable technology in ground-based astronomy, revolutionizing our ability to observe celestial objects with unprecedented clarity. Recognizing the increasing importance of AO in enhancing the capabilities of telescopes, it is imperative for the IIA to explore the potential integration of AO into its 2m Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) located in hanle, where the median seeing condition is 1 arcsec. This project focuses on the comprehensive study of implementing AO on the HCT and is based on end-to-end AO simulations. Our study identifies that the most suitable AO system for HCT is a Dual Adaptive Optics system, incorporating both Natural Guide Star (NGS) and Rayleigh Laser Guide Star (LGS) techniques. Deformable mirror and wavefront sensor are identified as two crucial components in any AO system, and this study includes a meticulous quantification process to inform the selection of these components. Our AO simulations indicate that a Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensor (SHWS) with an 11 x 11 lenslet array and a Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) deformable mirror with 12 x 12 actuators provide optimal strehl performance in the R, J, H, and K bands. For the LGS AO system, a 10 W UV pulsed laser is chosen to create a bright laser beacon. Sky coverage is the probability of finding a suitable guide star near the science target. Our calculations show that sky coverage for NGS AO is less than 1 %, whereas it is approximately 100 % for LGS AO, including tip-tilt sensing. Due to the inadequate sky coverage with NGS AO alone, the implementation of a dual adaptive optics system is necessary. This integration aims to significantly enhance the observational capabilities of the HCT, providing valuable insights for advancing ground-based astronomy at the challenging hanle site.
Board of Graduate Studies