SCExAO: a testbed for developing high-contrast imaging technologies for ELTs
Abstract
To directly detect exoplanets and protoplanetary disks, the development of high accuracy wavefront sensing and control (WFS&C) technologies is essential, especially for ground-based Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs). The Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) instrument is a high-contrast imaging platform to discover and characterize exoplanets and protoplanetary disks. It also serves as a testbed to validate and deploy new concepts or algorithms for high-contrast imaging approaches for ELTs, using the latest hardware and software technologies on an 8-meter class telescope. SCExAO is a multi-band instrument, using light from 600 to 2500 nm, and delivering a high Strehl ratio (>80% in median seeing in H-band) downstream of a low-order correction provided by the facility AO188. Science observations are performed with coronagraphs, an integral field spectrograph, or single aperture interferometers. The SCExAO project continuously reaches out to the community for development and upgrades. Existing operating testbeds such as the SCExAO are also unique opportunities to test and deploy the new technologies for future ELTs. We present and show a live demonstration of the SCExAO capabilities (Real-time predictive AO control, Focal plane WFS&C, etc) as a host testbed for the remote collaborators to test and deploy the new WFS&C concepts or algorithms. We also present several high-contrast imaging technologies that are under development or that have already been demonstrated on-sky.
Authors 24
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National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
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University of Arizona · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
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Observatoire de Paris · Astrobiology Center · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Astrobiology Ctr. of NINS (Japan)
Observatoire de Paris, LESIA (France)
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
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National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
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Observatoire de Paris · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan · University College London
Affiliation as printed
Observatoire de Paris, LESIA (France)
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
Univ. College London (United Kingdom)
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Affiliation as printed
NASA Ames Research Ctr. (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)
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University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Affiliation as printed
Univ. of Hawai'i (United States)
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Ames Research Center · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
NASA Ames Research Ctr. (United States)
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
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National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
-
Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
-
Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
-
University of Arizona · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
-
University of Arizona · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
-
Astrobiology Center · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Astrobiology Ctr. of NINS (Japan)
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
-
Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
-
Observatoire de Paris · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
Observatoire de Paris, LESIA (France)
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
-
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan · University College London
Affiliation as printed
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
Univ. College London (United Kingdom)
-
Affiliation as printed
Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)
-
Ames Research Center · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
NASA Ames Research Ctr. (United States)
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
-
Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
-
Ames Research Center · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Affiliation as printed
NASA Ames Research Ctr. (United States)
Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (United States)
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