Laser Guide Star Source and Atmospheric Turbulence Simulator

The overall goal of the program is to develop a test facility for laser-guided adaptive optics instruments that supports multiple simulated sodium and Rayleigh laser guide stars (LGS) as well as natural guide star (NGS) analogs, all in a configurable arrangement to allow exploration of arbitrary constellations of beacons of any of these types. The facility will also include a 3D analog of atmospheric turbulence with aberration distributed along the line of sight to model focus and angular anisoplanatism, and configurable turbulence and wind profiles. In Phase I of this SBIR program we propose to explore technical approaches to two key subsystems necessary for the construction of a LGS test facility. Conceptually, the system may be divided into components that model the atmospheric aberration, and separately the constellations of LGS and NGS beacons. A baseline approach to each component will be evaluated in Phase I primarily through design and modeling, but also including experimental tests of candidate techniques to implement the LGS. We will also explore ideas to simulate beacon uplink correction. Trade studies will also be carried out to assess other possible methods to implement each subsystem and to understand the extent to which the desired aspects of the overall system’s functionality will be cost and schedule drivers. Phase I will culminate with a preliminary design for a complete facility to be built in Phase II.