The 85-electrode AO system of the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope

Abstract: We discuss the chosen concepts, detailed design, implementation and calibration of the 85-electrode adaptive optics (AO) system of the Swedish 1-meter Solar Telescope (SST), which was installed in 2013. The AO system is unusual by using a combination of a monomorph mirror with a Shack-Hartmann (SH) wavefront sensor (WFS), and by using a second high-resolution SH microlens array to aid the DM characterization, calibration, and modal control. An Intel PC workstation performs the heavy image processing associated with cross correlations and real-time control at 2 kHz update rate with very low latency. The computer and software continue the successful implementation since 1995 of earlier generations of correlation tracker and AO systems at SST and its predecessor SVST by relying entirely on work station technology and an extremely efficient algorithm for implementing cross correlations with the large field-of-view of the WFS. We describe critical aspects of the design, calibrations, software and functioning of the AO system. The exceptionally high performance is testified through the highest Strehl ratio (inferred from the measured granulation contrast) of existing meter-class solar telescopes, as demonstrated here at wavelengths shorter than 400 nm and discussed in more detail in a separate publication by Scharmer et al. We expect that some aspects of this AO system may be of interest also outside the solar community.