WindsoCC: reconstructing the wind-driven halo in MagAO-X images using wavefront sensor telemetry
Abstract
The wind-driven halo (WDH) is a persistent, low spatial frequency noise artifact that arises due to the servo-lag error inherent to all adaptive optics (AO) instruments. Spatial filtering may be employed to overcome this artifact, however, filtering out the WDH while simultaneously preserving signal from an extended astrophysical object of interest is exceptionally challenging. Additionally, since the WDH changes in intensity and position angle through an observation, data-driven algorithms (e.g., KLIP) that are commonly used to subtract the starlight need to be overly-aggressive to remove both the static and dynamic noise components. Since wavefront sensors (WFSs) continuously track the closed-loop residual wavefront error, WFS telemetry presents the ideal resource for combating this type of noise artifact through postprocessing. Using archival WFS telemetry from MagAO-X, which is the “extreme” AO instrument for the 6.5-meter Magellan-Clay telescope, we demonstrate a novel workflow for WDH reconstruction and removal in individual coronagraphic science images. MagAO-X is equipped with a pyramid WFS capable of recording wavefront telemetry at a high-cadence which is saved during data acquisition. Given this, we detail how our WFS data processing pipeline, windsoCC, cross-correlates the recorded closed-loop wavefront to measure the wind vectors of several turbulent layers of the atmosphere above Las Campanas Observatory. We then make use of the wind parameters learned through windsoCC to reconstruct the WDH footprint by leveraging a parametric model. Notably, we demonstrate a dramatic improvement in object recovery using on-sky MagAO-X images of the disk around HR 4796A at visible wavelengths.
Authors 19
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Carnegie Institution for Science
Affiliation as printed
Carnegie Institution for Science (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Flatiron Institute (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Leiden University · University of Arizona · Leiden Observatory
Affiliation as printed
Leiden Observatory, Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (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 Observatory of Japan (United States)
Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Univ. of Michigan (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Northrop Grumman (United States)
Affiliation as printed
Northrop Grumman Corp. (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Draper Lab. (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
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Northrop Grumman (United States)
Affiliation as printed
Northrop Grumman Corp. (United States)
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Affiliation as printed
Starfire Optical Range (United States)
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