Abstract
The minimization of optical turbulence in and around the dome is key to reach optimum performance on large telescopes equipped with adaptive optics. We present the method and preliminary results of in-situ measurements of optical measurements made using sonic-anemometers. We show the impact of correcting the raw data for aliasing, path averaging, pulse sequence delays and Taylors’ hypothesis. Finally, we highlight the occurrence of non-Kolmogorov turbulence which complicates the quantitative impact of the measurements on the telescope's resolution.
Highlights
The site testing campaign for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) took place between 2003 and2008 [1]
A minimum of 2 years of data were recorded at 5 sites: Cerros Armazones, Tolar and Tolonchar in Chile, San Pedro Martίr in Mexico and Maunakea in Hawaii which ended up being selected for the construction of TMT
Several instruments used during this campaign are seen as having a useful purpose during the operation of the telescope as well
Summary
The site testing campaign for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) took place between 2003 and. A CSAT3 model sonic-anemometer was used at every site gathering temperature and wind velocity data from the 7m tower of the DIMM telescope. The goal is to use the sonic-anemometers operated during the TMT site testing campaign around key locations around the dome of the telescope to measure the turbulence field and minimize this turbulence to obtain the best possible on-sky resolution. We describe and estimate the different types of correction that are required to transform the sonic-anemometer’s date into real single point measurements of temperature and wind velocity It is with this corrections that we can aim for the most accurate turbulence measurements possible
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