MORFEO Wavefront Error Budget Defined for ESO's Extremely Large Telescope
Researchers have completed a comprehensive wavefront error budget for MORFEO, the adaptive optics system for the ESO Extremely Large Telescope, detailing how atmospheric and instrumental factors will affect its performance. MORFEO is the most complex adaptive optics system ever built for astronomy, featuring 12 wavefront sensors and three deformable mirrors designed to deliver near-infrared observations with the MICADO camera. This error budget is critical for predicting the system's scientific capabilities and informing observing strategies for one of the world's most advanced telescopes.
Researchers have completed a comprehensive wavefront error (WFE) budget for MORFEO (Multi-conjugate Adaptive Optics Relay For ELT Observations), the adaptive optics module of the ESO Extremely Large Telescope. The budget quantifies how various sources of error—including atmospheric turbulence, optical surface imperfections, alignment tolerances, control residuals, and calibration uncertainties—will affect the system's ability to deliver diffraction-limited near-infrared observations. MORFEO represents the largest and most complex adaptive optics system ever developed for astronomical use, with 12 wavefront sensors and three deformable mirrors working in concert. The error budget analysis considers multiple operating conditions and external factors, establishing the interplay between technical requirements and instrument design choices. This work provides essential input for end-to-end simulations of MORFEO-assisted observations and will guide the definition of future observing strategies for the ELT.
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- arXiv astro-phCenter
MORFEO wavefront error budget
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