PSF reconstruction for NAOS-CONICA

Adaptive optics (AO) allows one to derive the point spread function (PSF) simultaneously to the science image, which is a major advantage in post-processing tasks such as astrometry/photometry or deconvolution. Based on the algorithm of \citet{veran97}, PSF reconstruction has been developed for four different AO systems so far: PUEO, ALFA, Lick-AO and Altair. A similar effort is undertaken for NAOS/VLT in a collaboration between the group PHASE (Onera and Observatoire de Paris/LESIA) and ESO. In this paper, we first introduce two new algorithms that prevent the use of the so-called "$U\_{ij}$ functions" to: (1) avoid the storage of a large amount of data (for both new algorithms), (2) shorten the PSF reconstruction computation time (for one of the two) and (3) provide an estimation of the PSF variability (for the other one). We then identify and explain issues in the exploitation of real-time Shack-Hartmann (SH) data for PSF reconstruction, emphasising the large impact of thresholding in the accuracy of the phase residual estimation. Finally, we present the data provided by the NAOS real-time computer (RTC) to reconstruct PSF ({\em (1)} the data presently available, {\em (2)} two NAOS software modifications that would provide new data to increase the accuracy of the PSF reconstruction and {\em (3)} the tests of these modifications) and the PSF reconstruction algorithms we are developing for NAOS on that basis.Comment: 12 pages & 13 figures. To be published in the proceedings of the SPIE conference Advances in Adaptive Optics - Astronomical Telescopes & Instrumentation, 24-31 May 2006, Orland

Optical vortex coronagraphs on ground-based telescopes

The optical vortex coronagraph is potentially a remarkably effective device, at least for an ideal unobstructed telescope. Most ground-based telescopes however suffer from central obscuration and also have to operate through the aberrations of the turbulent atmosphere. This note analyzes the performance of the optical vortex in these circumstances and compares to some other designs, showing that it performs similarly in this situation. There is a large class of coronagraphs of this general type, and choosing between them in particular applications depends on details of performance at small off-axis distances and uniformity of response in the focal plane. Issues of manufacturability to the necessary tolerances are also likely to be important.Comment: 32 pages, 13 figure

An aperture masking mode for the MICADO instrument

MICADO is a near-IR camera for the Europea ELT, featuring an extended field (75" diameter) for imaging, and also spectrographic and high contrast imaging capabilities. It has been chosen by ESO as one of the two first-light instruments. Although it is ultimately aimed at being fed by the MCAO module called MAORY, MICADO will come with an internal SCAO system that will be complementary to it and will deliver a high performance on axis correction, suitable for coronagraphic and pupil masking applications. The basis of the pupil masking approach is to ensure the stability of the optical transfer function, even in the case of residual errors after AO correction (due to non common path errors and quasi-static aberrations). Preliminary designs of pupil masks are presented. Trade-offs and technical choices, especially regarding redundancy and pupil tracking, are explained.Comment: SPIE 2014 Proceeding -- Montrea

Sous-traiter l’accompagnement des chômeurs : éléments d’évaluation

Sous-traiter des parcours d’accompagnement des demandeurs d’emploi à des opérateurs privés représente une tendance commune à de nombreux pays, mais qui obéit à des objectifs différents du fait de contextes nationaux spécifiques. L’Australie, les Pays-Bas et le Royaume-Uni ont depuis longtemps recours à la sous-traitance ; cette tendance est plus récente en France. S’appuyer sur l’expérience des trois premiers pays permet d’éclairer la situation française. En effet, ces pays ont, sur la base des résultats de premières évaluations, appris de leurs échecs et transformé le cadre de régulation de la sous-traitance. Tout particulièrement, les processus d’appel d’offres, de sélection et d’orientation des demandeurs d’emploi, comme le contenu des contrats établis avec les opérateurs privés, ont été revus.Contracting-out case management of unemployed people to private providers represents one common trend to many countries, even if the objectives attributed in contracting-out and national context are specific. Australia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have a long experience on that subject : this trend is more recent in France. Actually, one can learn from such experience as far as theses countries have, on the basis of their first evaluations, learned of their failures and reformed the regulation framework of contracting-out. More precisely the tendering process, selection and orientation of unemployed people and also the contents of contracts have been transformed

A giant planet imaged in the disk of the young star Beta Pictoris

Here we show that the ~10 Myr Beta Pictoris system hosts a massive giant planet, Beta Pictoris b, located 8 to 15 AU from the star. This result confirms that gas giant planets form rapidly within disks and validates the use of disk structures as fingerprints of embedded planets. Among the few planets already imaged, Beta Pictoris b is the closest to its parent star. Its short period could allow recording the full orbit within 17 years.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Published online 10 June 2010; 10.1126/science.1187187. To appear in Scienc

A probable giant planet imaged in the Beta Pictoris disk

Since the discovery of its dusty disk in 1984, Beta Pictoris has become the prototype of young early-type planetary systems, and there are now various indications that a massive Jovian planet is orbiting the star at ~ 10 AU. However, no planets have been detected around this star so far. Our goal was to investigate the close environment of Beta Pic, searching for planetary companion(s). Deep adaptive-optics L'-band images of Beta Pic were recorded using the NaCo instrument at the Very Large Telescope. A faint point-like signal is detected at a projected distance of ~ 8 AU from the star, within the North-East side of the dust disk. Various tests were made to rule out with a good confidence level possible instrumental or atmospheric artifacts. The probability of a foreground or background contaminant is extremely low, based in addition on the analysis of previous deep Hubble Space Telescope images. The object L'=11.2 apparent magnitude would indicate a typical temperature of ~1500 K and a mass of ~ 8 Jovian masses. If confirmed, it could explain the main morphological and dynamical peculiarities of the Beta Pic system. The present detection is unique among A-stars by the proximity of the resolved planet to its parent star. Its closeness and location inside the Beta Pic disk suggest a formation process by core accretion or disk instabilities rather than a binary-like formation process.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. A&A Letters, in pres

Model-free reinforcement learning with a non-linear reconstructor for closed-loop adaptive optics control with a pyramid wavefront sensor

We present a model-free reinforcement learning (RL) predictive model with a supervised learning non-linear reconstructor for adaptive optics (AO) control with a pyramid wavefront sensor (P-WFS). First, we analyse the additional problems of training an RL control method with a P-WFS compared to the Shack-Hartmann WFS. From those observations, we propose our solution: a combination of model-free RL for prediction with a non-linear reconstructor based on neural networks with a U-net architecture. We test the proposed method in simulation of closed-loop AO for an 8m telescope equipped with a 32x32 P-WFS and observe that both the predictive and non-linear reconstruction add additional benefits over an optimised integrator.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 873120.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

An original interferometric study of NGC 1068 with VISIR BURST mode images

We present 12.8 microns images of the core of NGC 1068 obtained with the BURST mode of the VLT/VISIR. We trace structures under the diffraction limit of one UT and we investigate the link between dust in the vicinity of the central engine of NGC 1068, recently resolved by interferometry with MIDI, and more extended structures. This step is mandatory for a multi-scale understanding of the sources of mid-infrared emission in AGNs. A speckle processing of VISIR BURST mode images was performed to extract very low spatial-frequency visibilities, first considering the full field of VISIR BURST mode images and then limiting it to the mask used for the acquisition of MIDI data. Extracted visibilities are reproduced with a multi-component model. We identify two major sources of emission: one compact < 85 mas, associated with the dusty torus, and an elliptical one, (< 140) mas x 1187 mas at P.A.=-4 degrees from N to E. This is consistent with previous deconvolution processes. The combination with MIDI data reveals the close environment of the dusty torus to contribute to about 83 percent of the MIR flux seen by MIDI. This strong contribution has to be considered in modeling long baseline interferometric data. It must be related to the NS elongated component which is thought to originate from individually unresolved dusty clouds and is located inside the ionization cone. Low temperatures of the dusty torus are not challenged, emphasizing the scenarios of clumpy torus.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Unveiling the central parsec region of an AGN: the Circinus nucleus in the near infrared with the VLT

VLT J- to M\p-band adaptive optics observations of the Circinus Galaxy on parsec scales resolve a central bright Ks-band source with a FWHM size of 1.9 $\pm$ 0.6 pc. This source is only visible at wavelengths longward of 1.6 $\mu$m and coincides in position with the peak of the [Si VII]~2.48 $\mu$m coronal line emission. With respect to the peak of the central optical emission, the source is shifted by $\sim$ 0.15\arcsec (2.8 pc) to the south-east. Indeed, it defines the vertex of a fairly collimated beam which extends for $\sim$ 10 pc, and which is seen in both continuum light shortward of 1.6 $\mu$m and in H$\alpha$ line emission. The source also lies at the center of a $\sim$ 19 pc size [Si VII] ionization {\it bicone}. Identifying this source as the nucleus of Circinus, its size is compatible with a putative parsec-scale torus. Its spectral energy distribution, characterized by a prominent narrow peak, is compatible with a dust temperature of 300 K. Hotter dust within a 1 pc radius of the center is not detected. The AGN luminosity required to heat this dust is in the range of X-ray luminosities that have been measured toward the central source. This in turn supports the existence of highly obscuring material, with column densities of $10^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$, that must be located within 1 pc of the core.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures; To appear in The Astrophysical Journa