Field-Dependent Adaptive Optics Correction Derived with the Spectral Ratio Technique

Abstract

In this empirical study, we compare high-resolution observations obtained with the 65-cm vacuum reflector at Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) in 2005 and with the Dunn Solar Telescope (DST) at the National Solar Observatory/Sacramento Peak (NSO/SP) in 2006. We measure the correction of the high-order adaptive optics (AO) systems across the field of view (FOV) using the spectral ratio technique, which is commonly employed in speckle masking imaging, and differential image motion measurements. The AO correction is typically much larger (10′′ to 25′′) than the isoplanatic angle and can be described by a radially symmetric function with a central core and extended wings. The full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the core represents a measure of the AO correction. The average FWHM values for BBSO and NSO/SP are 23.5′′ and 18.2′′, respectively. The extended wings of the function show that the AO systems still contribute to an improved speckle reconstruction at the periphery of the 80′′×80′′ FOV. The major differences in the level of AO correction between BBSO and NSO/SP can be explained by different contributions of ground-layer- and free-atmosphere-dominated seeing, as well as different FOVs of the wavefront sensors. In addition, we find an anisotropic spectral ratio in sunspot penumbrae caused by the quasi-one-dimensional nature of penumbral filaments, which introduces a significant error in the estimation of the Fourier amplitudes during the image restoration process.