27 research outputs found
FFREE: a Fresnel-FRee Experiment for EPICS, the EELT planets imager
The purpose of FFREE - the new optical bench devoted to experiments on
high-contrast imaging at LAOG - consists in the validation of algorithms based
on off-line calibration techniques and adaptive optics (AO) respectively for
the wavefront measurement and its compensation. The aim is the rejection of the
static speckles pattern arising in a focal plane after a diffraction
suppression system (based on apodization or coronagraphy) by wavefront
pre-compensation. To this aim, FFREE has been optimized to minimize Fresnel
propagation over a large near infrared (NIR) bandwidth in a way allowing
efficient rejection up to the AO control radius, it stands then as a
demonstrator for the future implementation of the optics that will be common to
the scientific instrumentation installed on EPICS.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures, Proceeding 7736120 of the SPIE Conference
"Adaptive Optics Systems II", monday 28 June 2010, San Diego, California, US
VITRUV - Imaging close environments of stars and galaxies with the VLTI at milli-arcsec resolution
The VITRUV project has the objective to deliver milli-arcsecond
spectro-images of the environment of compact sources like young stars, active
galaxies and evolved stars to the community. This instrument of the VLTI second
generation based on the integrated optics technology is able to combine from 4
to 8 beams from the VLT telescopes. Working primarily in the near infrared, it
will provide intermediate to high spectral resolutions and eventually
polarization analysis. This paper summarizes the result from the concept study
led within the Joint Research Activity advanced instruments of the OPTICON
program.Comment: In "The Power of Optical/IR Interferometry: Recent Scientific Results
and 2nd Generation VLTI Instrumentation", Allemagne (2005) in pres
New insights into stop codon recognition by eRF1
In eukaryotes, translation termination is performed by eRF1, which recognizes stop codons via its N-terminal domain. Many previous studies based on point mutagenesis, cross-linking experiments or eRF1 chimeras have investigated the mechanism by which the stop signal is decoded by eRF1. Conserved motifs, such as GTS and YxCxxxF, were found to be important for termination efficiency, but the recognition mechanism remains unclear. We characterized a region of the eRF1 N-terminal domain, the P1 pocket, that we had previously shown to be involved in termination efficiency. We performed alanine scanning mutagenesis of this region, and we quantified in vivo readthrough efficiency for each alanine mutant. We identified two residues, arginine 65 and lysine 109, as critical for recognition of the three stop codons. We also demonstrated a role for the serine 33 and serine 70 residues in UGA decoding in vivo. NMR analysis of the alanine mutants revealed that the correct conformation of this region was controlled by the YxCxxxF motif. By combining our genetic data with a structural analysis of eRF1 mutants, we were able to formulate a new model in which the stop codon interacts with eRF1 through the P1 pocket
Preparation of the AMBER integrations
The Astronomical Multi-Beam Recombiner (AMBER) is a near infrared /red focal interferometric instrument. Its integration takes place in Grenoble where each sub-system is tested, aligned and the AMBER requirements validated. In a preliminary phase the environment of the AMBER integration room was characterized. Several tests were made in order to determine, and when required to reduce, environmental constraints (temperature, turbulence and vibrations of the optical table)
An end-to-end Fresnel propagation model for SPEED: PIAACMC implementation and performance
International audienc
The segmented pupil experiment for exoplanet detection. 4. A versatile image-based wavefront sensor for active optics
International audienc
The segmented pupil experiment for exoplanet detection: Part 3. Advances and first light with segments cophasing
International audienceSPEED (Segmented Pupil Experiment for Exoplanet Detection) is an instrumental testbed designed to offer an ideal cocoon to provide relevant solutions in both cophasing and high-contrast imaging with segmented telescopes. The next generation of observatories will be made of a primary mirror with excessive complexity (mirror segmentation, central obscuration, and spider vanes) undoubtedly known to be unfavorable for the direct detection of exoplanets. Exoplanets detection around late-type stars (M-dwarfs) constitutes an outstanding reservoir of candidates, and SPEED integrates all the recipes to pave the road for this science case (cophasing sensors, multi-DM wavefront control and shaping architecture as well as advanced coronagraphy). In this paper, we provide a progress overview of the project and report on the first light with segments cophasing control and monitoring from a coronagraphic image