Special Workshop: Laser Technology and Systems for Astronomy 2007 Workshop

Sunday November 19, 2006 at Tenaya Lodge, in conjunction with / subsequent to the CfAO Fall Retreat

Organizers: Dee Pennington and Domenico Bonaccini.

The purpose of this workshop is for all interested parties to exchange information and decide where key investments should be made in sodium laser guidestar technology to meet the needs of advanced laser guide star systems envisioned for the large telescopes.

Agenda:

• LGS AO status (now there are many! Lick, Keck, Gemini, Palomar, VLT)
• Review and discussion of ongoing Laser development efforts:
  • Technology Development: possible topic areas: Solid state amplifiers, fiber amplifiers, mixing crystals, fiber delivery
  • Understanding Laser to Sodium Coupling Physics and relation to pulse format; Measurements of Sodium layer return
• Discussion of strategy and plans for AO laser development
  • Coinvestment/collaboration in acquiring important technologies: e.g. fiber development, mixing crystals

Participants:

• Domenico Bonaccini, European Southern Observatory (by video)
• Jay Dawson, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Craig Denman, Starfire Optical Range
• Daren Dillon, Lick Observatory
• Dan Eklund, NOAO
• Brent Ellerbroek, Thirty Meter Telescope Project
• Bob Fugate, New Mexico Tech and Starfire Optical Range
• Don Gavel, Lick Observatory
• Paul Hillman, Starfire Optical Range
• Joe Janni, AMOS
• Dee Pennington, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Sandrine Thomas, Lick Observatory
• Alan Tracy, Lockheed Martin Coherent Technology

Invited, but could not attend:

• Rich Dekany, Palomar Observatory
• Celine D'Orgeville, Gemini Observatory
• Wolfgang Hackenberg, European Southern Observatory
• Alan Hankla, Lockheed Martin Coherent Technology
• Masanori Iye, Subaru Telescope
• Ed Kibblewhite, University of Chicago and Palomar Observatory
• Ian McKinnie, Lockheed Martin Coherent Technology
• Francois Rigaut, Gemini Observatory

Please contact:

Dee Pennington or Dominico Bonaccini or Donald Gavel

Submitted Presentations