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National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics Sharpens Subaru Telescope's Eyesight and Opens a New Vision of the Distant Universe

| Science

Laser beam shot from the Subaru Telescope to generate an artificial guide star at a height of 90 km in the upper atmosphere. (Photo by Daniel Birchall, NAOJ)
Figure1. Laser beam shot from the Subaru Telescope to generate an artificial guide star at a height of 90 km in the upper atmosphere. (Photo by Daniel Birchall, NAOJ)

A research team at NAOJ has begun scientific observations with Subaru Telescope's Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics (LGSAO) system. The LGSAO uses a powerful laser to illuminate the sodium layer of the atmosphere and create an artificial guide star that shines in the upper atmosphere. The LGSAO system integrates the creation of an artificial guide star with adaptive optics that compensates for atmospheric turbulence. This integrated system delivers to the scientific instruments images that are ten times sharper than previous ones. (Figure 1) Consequently, it will facilitate discoveries of new objects and clarify the details of other faintly observed ones.

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