Optimum imaging observation wavelength selection for astronomical telescopes with partial correction adaptive optics

Adaptive Optics Laboratory, Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 350, Shuangliu, Chengdu 610209, Sichuan, PR China

Corresponding author: Changhui Rao, chrao@sc.homeway.com.cn

Received: 20 June 2001
Accepted: 15 April 2002

Abstract

In order to maximize the compensation potential of adaptive optics system for atmospheric turbulence, an appropriate observing wavelength should be selected on the basis of system capability and the working conditions to improve the optical resolution of astronomical telescopes. Based on the analysis of the wavefront residual error of the adaptive optics system, the optimum imaging observation wavelengths giving maximum imaging resolution of a partial correction adaptive optics system are derived for short-exposure and long exposure imaging respectively. The developed method is used to evaluate the optimum observing wavelength and the corresponding imaging resolution for the 61-element adaptive optical system at the 1.2 m telescope of the Yunnan Observatory.