Etude d'un nouveau concept d'analyse de front d'onde en plan focal appliqué à l'optique adaptative en astronomie

The upcoming generation of telescopes, the Extremely Large Telescopes (ELT), will open the way towards finer astronomical observations. These instruments will require advanced adaptive optics systems in order to correct the effects of atmospheric turbulence and reach the performance specifications. Wavefront sensing is a fundamental element of adaptive optics. Wavefront sensors need a relatively high flux to be effective, especially when estimating high order aberrations, which are essential for a good correction. The sky being poor in bright stars, laser guide stars, created by exciting a volume of sodium atoms in the upper atmosphere, are often used. Unfortunately, the tip/tilt cannot be estimated from these artificial stars. Moreover, the focus measurement is biased because of the instability of the sodium layer's altitude. Therefore, the estimation of these three aberrations must be made on a faint natural star. A strategy for sensing low orders at low flux has thus to be defined. More generally, wavefront sensing techniques are evolving to answer the new needs of adaptive optics. It is then important to compare sensing strategies in terms of sensitivity and dynamics. This thesis has been initiated by a new wavefront sensor concept: LIFT (LInearized Focal-plane Technique). This sensor will be able to estimate tip/tilt and focus on a faint natural star, in order to complement the analysis on laser stars, more efficiently than the current means. The first goal of the thesis is the optimization of LIFT and its experimental validation. To do this, I first studied the algorithm's convergence properties and its noise propagation in order to determine the optimal parameters. I then validated LIFT in laboratory on static phases, in the absence of adaptive optics and turbulence. Once these first tests finished, we tested LIFT on sky thanks to the adaptive optics system of the Gemini South telescope, GeMS. The linearity of LIFT's estimation despite the presence of high order residuals, due to the imperfect correction of adaptive optics, has been confirmed in open loop, and we are now planning a final validation by integrating LIFT in a closed loop. In a second phase, I studied the noise propagation of a wavefront sensor derived from LIFT, the LIFTed Shack-Hartmann. This sensor uses astigmatic lenslets to divide the pupil, and measures the wavefront in each subaperture with LIFT. It will allow a more efficient estimation of high orders than a regular Shack-Hartmann. The final objective is to compare existing wavefront sensors' noise propagations for the estimation on a natural star of low orders on one hand, which corresponds to LIFT's domain of application and of high orders on the other hand, for exemple in an extreme adaptive optics application. This study motivates the use of LIFT and the LIFTed Shack-Hartmann in adaptive optics systems.L’avènement des Extremely Large Telescopes (ELT) est imminent. Cette nouvelle génération de télescopes ouvrira la voie vers des observations astronomiques toujours plus fines. Les futurs instruments nécessitent des optiques adaptatives de plus en plus sophistiquées pour corriger les effets de la turbulence et atteindre les performances requises. L’analyse de front d’onde est un élément fondamental de l’optique adaptative. Les analyseurs requièrent un flux relativement élevé pour être efficaces, notamment lors de l'estimation de hauts ordres, qui sont nécessaires pour obtenir une bonne correction. Comme le ciel est pauvre en étoiles brillantes, on utilise souvent des étoiles laser, produites par excitation d’un volume de sodium dans la haute atmosphère. Malheureusement, on ne peut pas estimer correctement un tip/tilt avec ces étoiles artificielles. De plus, le focus mesuré est biaisé à cause de l'instabilité en altitude de la couche de sodium. La mesure de ces trois aberrations doit donc pouvoir être faite sur une étoile naturelle de très faible luminosité. On peut alors se demander quelle stratégie adopter pour l'analyse des bas ordres à faible flux. De manière plus générale, les techniques d'analyse de front d'onde sont en pleine évolution pour répondre aux nouveaux besoins de l'optique adaptative. Il est donc important de comparer les stratégies d'analyse en terme de sensibilité et de dynamique. La thèse s’appuie sur un nouveau concept d’analyseur de surface d’onde : LIFT (LInearized Focal-plane Technique). Cet analyseur permettra d’estimer le tip/tilt et le focus sur une étoile naturelle faible, afin de compléter l’analyse faite sur les étoiles lasers, de façon plus efficace qu’avec les moyens actuels. Le premier but de la thèse est d'optimiser et de valider LIFT expérimentalement. Pour cela, j'ai d'abord étudié les propriétés de convergence de l'algorithme et la propagation du bruit afin de déterminer les paramètres optimaux. J'ai ensuite testé le concept de LIFT en laboratoire sur des phases statiques, puis sur le ciel grâce au système d'optique adaptative du télescope Gemini Sud, GeMS. La linéarité de l'estimation malgré la présence de hauts ordres résiduels, dus à la correction imparfaite de l'optique adaptative, a été validée en boucle ouverte, et nous pouvons maintenant envisager une validation finale en intégrant LIFT dans une boucle fermée. Dans un deuxième temps, j'ai étudié la propagation du bruit dans un analyseur dérivé de LIFT, le Shack-Hartmann LIFTé. Cet analyseur divise la pupille à l'aide de micro-lentilles astigmatiques, et une estimation par LIFT est faite dans chaque sous-pupille. Il permettra une estimation de hauts ordres plus précise qu'avec un Shack-Hartmann classique. Le dernier objectif est de comparer les analyseurs existants, en termes de propagation de bruit, pour l'estimation sur étoile naturelle des bas ordres d'une part, cas d'application de LIFT, et des hauts ordres d'autre part, dans le cas d'une optique adaptative extrême par exemple. Cette étude permet de motiver l'utilisation de LIFT et du Shack-Hartmann LIFTé dans des systèmes d'optique adaptative

Deep into the core of dense star clusters: An astrometric and photometric test case for ELT

We present a novel analysis of a young star cluster in the Large Magellanic cloud, R136- like, as seen by the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). The main aim of this study is to quantify precision and accuracy of stellar proper motion measurements in crowded field when using an ELT working at its diffraction limit. This can serve as a reference study for future development of ELT scientific cases. In particular, we investigate our future ability to detect the dynamical signature of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) with mass ∼104 M⊙ through detailed measurements of stellar proper motions. We have simulated two N-body dynamical cluster models with and without an IMBH. For each model, we have chosen two snapshots temporally spaced by 5 yr. Stellar fluxes in IJHK filters and star positions have been used to create ELT mock images for both single- and multiconjugate adaptive optics observing modes following the requierements given by ESO technical specifications for the first light imager. These images have been analysed using a classical software for seeing-limited data reduction, DAOPHOT/ALLSTAR. We make accurate photometry till the very faint pre-main-sequence stars, i.e. depending on the adaptive optics (AO) mode, magnitudes down to K ∼ 24 mag (singleconjugate AO) or K ∼ 22 mag (multiconjugate AO) in a total integration time of 20 min on target. Although DAOPHOT suite of programs is not devoted to precise astrometry, the astrometric accuracy is impressive, reaching few μas yr-1 or km s-1. In these assumptions, we are able to detect the IMBH signature at the centre of the cluster

LO WFS of MAORY: performance and sky coverage assessment

MAORY is the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics module for the European ELT. It will provide a wide-field correction for the first-light instrument MICADO. The Low-Order wavefront modes will be sensed on 3 Natural Guide Stars with Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensors, so-called the LO WFS. In the presented work, we focus on the numerical study of the main aspects that depend on the LO WFS design and operational use: low-order sensing performance and sky coverage

The SOUL view of IRAS20126+4104. Kinematics and variability of the H2_2 jet from a massive protostar

We exploit the increased sensitivity of the recently installed AO SOUL at the LBT to obtain new high-spatial-resolution NIR images of the massive young stellar object IRAS20126+4104 and its outflow. We aim to derive the jet proper motions and kinematics, as well as to study its photometric variability by combining the novel performances of SOUL together with previous NIR images. We used both broad-band ($K_{s}$, $K'$) and narrow-band (Br$\gamma$, H2) observations from a number of NIR cameras (UKIRT/UFTI,SUBARU/CIAO,TNG/NICS,LBT/PISCES,and LBT/LUCI1) to derive maps of the continuum and the H$_2$ emission in the 2.12 $\mu$m line. Three sets of images, obtained with AO systems (CIAO,2003; FLAO,2012; SOUL,2020), allowed us to derive the proper motions of a large number of H$_2$ knots along the jet. Photometry from all images was used to study the jet variability. We derived knot proper motions in the range of 1.7-20.3 mas yr$^{-1}$ (i.e. 13-158 km s$^{-1}$ at 1.64 kpc, avg. outflow tangential velocity $\sim$ 80 km s$^{-1}$). The derived knot dynamical age spans a $\sim$ 200-4000 yr interval. A ring-like H$_2$ feature near the protostar location exhibits peculiar kinematics and may represent the outcome of a wide-angle wind impinging on the outflow cavity. Both H$_2$ geometry and velocities agree with those inferred from proper motions of the H$_2$O masers, located at a smaller distance from the protostar. Although the total H$_2$ line emission from the knots does not exhibit time variations at a $\widetilde{>}$ 0.3 mag level, we have found a clear continuum flux variation (radiation scattered by the dust in the cavity opened by the jet) which is anti-correlated between the blue-shifted and red-shifted lobes and may be periodic (with a period of $\sim$ 12-18 yr). We suggest that the continuum variability might be related to inner-disc oscillations which have also caused the jet precession.Comment: 26 pages, 22 figures, 2 mpeg files, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysic

Near-Infrared Observations of Outflows and YSOs in the Massive Star-Forming Region AFGL 5180

Methods: Broad- and narrow-band imaging of AFGL 5180 was made in the NIR with the LBT, in both seeing-limited (\sim0.5\arcsec) and high angular resolution (\sim0.09\arcsec) Adaptive Optics (AO) modes, as well as with HST. Archival ALMA continuum data was also utilized. Results: At least 40 jet knots were identified via NIR emission from H$_2$ and [FeII] tracing shocked gas. Bright jet knots outflowing from the central most massive protostar, S4, are detected towards the east of the source and are resolved in fine detail with the AO imaging. Additional knots are distributed throughout the field, likely indicating the presence of multiple driving sources. Sub-millimeter sources detected by ALMA are shown to be grouped in two main complexes, AFGL 5180 M and a small cluster \sim15\arcsec to the south, AFGL 5180 S. From our NIR continuum images we identify YSO candidates down to masses of $\sim 0.1\:M_\odot$. Combined with the sub-mm sources, this yields a surface number density of such YSOs of $N_* \sim 10^3 {\rm pc}^{-2}$ within a projected radius of about 0.1 pc. Such a value is similar to those predicted by models of both Core Accretion from a turbulent clump environment and Competitive Accretion. The radial profile of $N_*$ is relatively flat on scales out to 0.2~pc, with only modest enhancement around the massive protostar inside 0.05~pc. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the utility of high-resolution NIR imaging, in particular with AO, for detecting outflow activity and YSOs in distant regions. The presented images reveal the complex morphology of outflow-shocked gas within the large-scale bipolar flow of a massive protostar, as well as clear evidence for several other outflow driving sources in the region. Finally, this work presents a novel approach to compare the observed YSO surface number density from our study against different models of massive star formation.Comment: Accepted to Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A

GMP-selected dual and lensed AGNs: Selection function and classification based on near-IR colors and resolved spectra from VLT/ERIS, Keck/OSIRIS, and LBT/LUCI

The Gaia Multipeak (GMP) technique can be used to identify large numbers of dual or lensed active galactic nucleus (AGN) candidates at subarcsec separation, allowing us to study both multiple supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the same galaxy and rare, compact lensed systems. The observed samples can be used to test the predictions of the models of SMBH merging when (1) the selection function of the GMP technique is known, and (2) each system has been classified as a dual AGN, a lensed AGN, or an AGN/star alignment. Here we show that the GMP selection is very efficient for separations above 0:15′′ when the secondary (fainter) object has a magnitude G ≤ 20:5. We present the spectroscopic classification of five GMP candidates using VLT/ERIS and Keck/OSIRIS and compare them with the classifications obtained from (a) the near-IR colors of seven systems obtained with LBT/LUCI, and (b) the analysis of the total spatially unresolved spectra. We conclude that colors and integrated spectra can already provide reliable classifications of many systems. Finally, we summarize the confirmed dual AGNs at z > 0:5 selected by the GMP technique, and compare this sample with other such systems from the literature, concluding that GMP can provide a large number of confirmed dual AGNs at separations below 7 kpc

GMP-selected dual and lensed AGNs: selection function and classification based on near-IR colors and resolved spectra from VLT/ERIS, KECK/OSIRIS, and LBT/LUCI

The Gaia-Multi-Peak (GMP) technique can be used to identify large numbers of dual or lensed AGN candidates at sub-arcsec separation, allowing us to study both multiple SMBHs in the same galaxy and rare, compact lensed systems. The observed samples can be used to test the predictions of the models of SMBH merging once 1) the selection function of the GMP technique is known, and 2) each system has been classified as dual AGN, lensed AGN, or AGN/star alignment. Here we show that the GMP selection is very efficient for separations above 0.15'' when the secondary (fainter) object has magnitude G<20.5. We present the spectroscopic classification of five GMP candidates using VLT/ERIS and Keck/OSIRIS, and compare them with the classifications obtained from: a) the near-IR colors of 7 systems obtained with LBT/LUCI, and b) the analysis of the total, spatially-unresolved spectra. We conclude that colors and integrated spectra can already provide reliable classifications of many systems. Finally, we summarize the confirmed dual AGNs at z>0.5 selected by the GMP technique, and compare this sample with other such systems from the literature, concluding that GMP can provide a large number of confirmed dual AGNs at separations below 7 kpc.Comment: 14 pages,A&A, in pres

Status of the preliminary design of the NGS WFS subsystem of MAORY

The Natural Guide Star (NGS) Wavefront Sensor (WFS) sub-system of MAORY implements 3 Low-Order and Reference (LOR) WFS needed by the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) system. Each LOR WFS has 2 main purposes: first, to sense the fast low-order modes that are affected by atmospheric anisoplanatism and second, to de-trend the LGS measurements from the slow spatial and temporal drifts of the Sodium layer. These features require to implement 2 different WFS sharing the same NGS and optical breadboard but being respectively a 2×2 Shack-Hartman Sensor (SHS) working at infrared wavelengths and a slow 10×10 SHS at visible bands. The NG WFS sub-system also provides a common support plate for the 3 WFS and their control electronics and cabling. The paper summarizes the status of the preliminary design of the LOR Module on the road to the MAORY Preliminary Design Review (PDR), focusing mainly on the description and analysis of the opto-mechanical arrangement foreseen for the NGS WFS sub-system. Performances and the design trade-offs of the NGS WFS sub-system are analyzed in a complementary paper. First, the requirement imposed by MAORY AO system are discussed. Then the paper gives an overview of the opto-mechanical arrangement for the main components of the sub-system: the support plate, the 3 WFS units and their interfaces to the instrument rotator. In the end the paper discusses the sub-system pointing and WFE budgets derived from different analyses. The design concept for the electronic devices of the sub-system, the cabinet arrangement and the cabling sheme are given in second complementary paper

Experimental validation of LIFT for estimation of low-order modes in low-flux wavefront sensing

International audienceLaser Tomographic and Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics systems rely on natural guide stars to sense low order aberrations (tip/tilt and focus). LIFT is a novel focal plane wavefront sensor (WFS), performing a maximum likelihood phase retrieval on a single image, with better sensitivity than a 2x2 Hartmann-Shack WFS. Its performance for the estimation of tip/tilt and focus is similar to a pyramid WFS without modulation, but with a simpler set-up. We present here the LIFT concept and associated data processing, as well as experimental results. We validate the estimation of tip/tilt and focus, with monochromatic and large bandwidth light, and verify the low noise sensitivity predicted by theory. (C) 2013 Optical Society of Americ

Atomic modelling of carbon atom diffusion in monoclinic zirconia volume, subsurface and surface

International audienceCarbon atom diffusion in monoclinic zirconia from bulk to the ( 1¯ 11) surface is studied by Density Functional Theory and atomic Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) calculations. The aim is to characterize the behaviour of 14 C in one type of nuclear waste in its deep disposal site during a geological timescale at 50 °C. In bulk, diffusion coefficient expression Dbulk=1.6 ×10−3(cm2s)×e(−1.19 eVkBT) shows a very slow diffusion of 10 −22  cm 2 /s at 50 °C. The carbon atom at the subsurface frontier in the bulk side prefers to diffuse towards the surface rather than staying in the bulk or moving laterally. Diffusion from subsurface to surface is accessible at 50 °C with a minimum migration energy calculated at 0.20 eV. On the surface, diffusion is more probable than in the bulk with a diffusion coefficient expression Dsurf=1.1×10−3(cm2s)×e(−0.76 eVkBT) equals to 10 −15  cm 2 /s at 50 °C. Atomic KMC simulation shows one dimensional diffusion along an identified path on the surface