Quadruple laser system heralds sharper images for ESO’s Very Large Telescope

European Southern Observatory Press Release

27 April 2016 Astronomy Now

This spectacular image of four powerful beams emerging from the new laser system on Unit Telescope 4 that form a crucial part of the adaptive optics systems on ESO’s Very Large Telescope. These are the most powerful laser guide stars ever used for astronomy and mark the first use of multiple laser guide stars at ESO. Image credit: ESO/F. Kamphues.
This spectacular image of four powerful beams emerging from the new laser system on Unit Telescope 4 that form a crucial part of the adaptive optics systems on ESO’s Very Large Telescope. These are the most powerful laser guide stars ever used for astronomy and mark the first use of multiple laser guide stars at ESO. Image credit: ESO/F. Kamphues.
On 26 April 2016, ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile hosted an event to mark the first light for the four powerful lasers that form a crucial part of the adaptive optics systems on ESO’s Very Large Telescope. Attendees were treated to a spectacular display of cutting-edge laser technology against the majestic skies of Paranal. These are the most powerful laser guide stars ever used for astronomy and the event marks the first use of multiple laser guide stars at ESO.

ESO staff were present for the event, along with senior representatives of the companies that have manufactured the different components of the new system.

This image shows the four 30-centimetre diameter, 22-watt beams emerging from the new 589 nm laser system on Unit Telescope 4 of the VLT. Image credit: ESO/G. Hüdepohl.
This image shows the four 30-centimetre diameter, 22-watt beams emerging from the new 589 nm laser system on Unit Telescope 4 of the VLT. Click the image for a full-size version. Image credit: ESO/G. Hüdepohl.
The Four Laser Guide Star Facility (4LGSF) shines four 22-watt laser beams into the sky to create artificial guide stars by making sodium atoms in the upper atmosphere glow so that they look just like real stars. The artificial stars allow the adaptive optics systems to compensate for the blurring caused by the Earth’s atmosphere and so that the telescope can create sharp images. Using more than one laser allows the turbulence in the atmosphere to be mapped in far greater detail to significantly improve the image quality over a larger field of view.

The Four Laser Guide Star Facility is an example of how ESO enables European industry to lead complex research and development projects. The fibre laser used by the 4LGSF is also one of the most successful transfers of ESO technology to industry.

TOPTICA, the German main contractor, was responsible for the laser system and provided the oscillator, the frequency doubler, and the system control software. Wilhelm Kaenders, president of TOPTICA, said: “TOPTICA has enjoyed the collaboration with ESO tremendously. It is not only the personal thrill of being engaged with astronomy, an old passion, again, and working with very clever ESO technologists; it is also the inspiration that we have received for our own commercial product development.”

MPBC of Canada provided the fibre laser pumps and Raman amplifiers, which are based on an ESO licensed patent. Jane Bachynski, President of MPB Communications Inc., said: “MPBC is proud to have worked with ESO in the development of Raman fibre amplifiers to much higher powers, allowing MPBC to bring this technology to the stars. This event marks the culmination of many years of hard work on behalf of all involved.”

TNO in the Netherlands manufactured the optical tube assemblies, which expand the laser beams and direct them into the sky. Paul de Krom, CEO of TNO, said: “TNO valued the cooperative working environment during the development of the optical tube assemblies and looks forward to the opportunity to work with ESO and the other partners in the 4LGSF project in the future.”

This schematic view shows how the Four Laser Guide Star Facility is installed on the Unit Telescope 4 of ESO’s Very Large Telescope. The different components are labelled. Image credit:ESO/L. Calçada.
This schematic view shows how the Four Laser Guide Star Facility is installed on the Unit Telescope 4 of ESO’s Very Large Telescope. The different components are labelled. Image credit:ESO/L. Calçada.
The 4LGSF is part of the Adaptive Optics Facility on Unit Telescope 4 of the VLT, designed specifically to provide the adaptive optics systems GALACSI/MUSE and GRAAL/HAWK-I with four sodium laser guide stars. With this new facility, Paranal Observatory continues to have the most advanced and the largest number of adaptive optics systems in operation today.

The 4LGSF lasers were developed by ESO with industry and have already been procured, among others, by the Keck Observatory (which contributed to the industrial laser development cost along with the European Commission) and the Subaru Telescope. In the future these industrial lasers will also feature on the telescopes at the Gemini Observatory and will be the preferred choice for several other observatories and extremely large telescope projects.

The new techniques developed for the Four Laser Guide Star Facility pave the way for the adaptive optics system of the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), the world’s biggest eye on the sky.

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