The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Purpose

Canada's involvement in next generation extremely large optical telescopes (ELTs) requires the ability to precisely align scientific instruments on astronomical objects. As part of this project, the team is developing techniques that make use of large-format infrared image sensors to precisely measure minute misalignments on sky at high speed, though the use of on-detector guide windows. The team aims to demonstrate the feasibility of these techniques. Because these sensors are used for both scientific imaging and precision alignment of astronomical objects on sky, sophisticated readout techniques are required. For example, within a single scientific frame, bright astronomical objects can be read out at a faster rate within small windowed regions to track drifts and misalignments in the telescope while the remainder of the frame can expose for longer periods for scientific data acquisition. these techniques will be developed on the latest generation and largest format (Teledyne 16 megapixel HAWAII-4RG) scientific infrared detectors and make them available to the international ELT community. These methods will have broad implications for future scientific infrared instruments at the world's largest observatories, which will make precise and sensitive measurements of the distant universe.