Expected performance of solar adaptive optics in large-aperture solar telescopes

Abstract

High resolution ground based solar observations require adaptive optics correction. The next generation of solar telescopes will have large aperture sizes, in the range of 4 m, and will require larger and more complex adaptive optics systems. We study the effects that extended field wavefront sensors have on the correction performance for large aperture size telescopes. These effects are more pronounced for observations at low elevation angles, which are common during high resolution solar observations. Additionally, atmospheric dispersion is strongest at low elevation angle observations and can cause further reductions of the adaptive optics performance. We present a study of the expected correction performance of solar adaptive optics systems in large-aperture solar telescopes using an end-to-end adaptive optics simulation package.