The multi conjugate adaptive optics relay for micado

Sylvain Douté (1) , Philippe Feautrier (1) , G. Chauvin (1, 2) , Estelle Moraux (1)

1 IPAG - Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
2 LFCA - Laboratoire Franco-Chilien d'Astronomie

MAORY (Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics RelaY) is the adaptive optics module that will restore the full angular resolution of a 39m telescope at the focal plane of the ELT's camera MICADO and of another instrument in a more distant future. MAORY is designed to be delivered in first light and must provide a multi-conjugate correction (MCAO) of atmospheric turbulence effects over the entire MICADO field of view (up to 50 ") with excellent uniformity. For that purpose it will use up to 8 laser guide stars (LGS) and 3 natural guide stars (NGS). MAORY will be able to operate in MCAO mode over more than 50% of the accessible sky from the ELT site instead of a few percents with a conventional Single Conjugated Adaptive Optics (SCAO). Two observational techniques will particularly take advantage of MAORY : astrometry and deep photometry in primary science cases such as small bodies and planets of the Solar System, young stellar populations, black holes and galaxies, and the evolution of the young Universe.

Mots clés: Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics; MAORY; MICADO; Science cases; European Large Telescope

Domaines: Astrophysique [astro-ph]; Instrumentation et méthodes pour l'astrophysique [astro-ph.IM]

Sylvain Douté, Philippe Feautrier, G. Chauvin, Estelle Moraux. The multi conjugate adaptive optics relay for micado. Journées de la Société Francaise d’Astronomie et d’Astrophysique (SF2A) 2019, May 2019, Nice, France. ⟨hal-03095778⟩