Abstract
ABSTRACTA sodium laser guide star (LGS) experiment for astronomical adaptive optics (AO) using a diode‐laser pumped sum‐frequency laser is described. Results of the LGS experiment from 1997 October to 1998 February are presented and discussed. An LGS as bright as 9.5 mag and as small as a natural star has been formed with about 1.1 W of laser power incident at the mesosphere. The experimental data indicate that the optical pumping effects have enhanced the LGS brightness by about 40%–50%. The laser has been shown to be efficient and robust and can already be used as a facility instrument on the astronomical AO system. The predicted wave‐front sensor measurement errors for typical AO systems have been calculated from the observed LGS flux and spot profile. Wave‐front errors of 83 nm with the current Chicago Adaptive Optics System (ChAOS) at the winter (maximum) sodium abundance level and 96 nm with the improved ChAOS and laser system at the summer (minimum) sodium abundance level are predicted.
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