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Victor Gasho

Publications and source records attributed to Victor Gasho.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The final design of GMagAO-X: high-contrast imaging at first-light of the GMT

GMagAO-X will be the first-light high-contrast imager on the 25 m Giant Magellan Telescope. The driving science case for GMagAO-X is characterization of the atmospheres of nearby rocky exoplanets such as Proxima Centauri b. The revolutionary increase in spatial resolution and sensitivity provided by GMagAO-X will enable detailed study of such planets for the first time. Additional science cases include: reflected light characterization of mature giant planets; measurement of young extrasolar giant planet variability; characterization of circumstellar disks at unprecedented spatial resolution; characterization of benchmark stellar atmospheres at high spectral resolution; and mapping of resolved objects such as giant stars and asteroids. These, and many more, science cases will be enabled by a 21,000 actuator extreme adaptive optics (ExAO) system, an integrated coronagraphic wavefront control system with dedicated deformable mirrors, and a suite of imagers and spectrographs. Science-driven performance requirements for GMagAO-X include achieving a Strehl ratio of 70% at 800 nm on 8th mag and brighter stars, and exoplanet characterization at planet:star flux-ratios of 1e-7 at 4 lambda/D (26 mas at 800 nm) separation. GMagAO-X has been added to the GMT project baseline plan and is in the final design phase, aiming to complete FDR in March, 2027. The instrument is on track to be ready at first-light of the GMT in the mid 2030s. We provide a brief update of the instrument designed to achieve our ambitious performance targets.

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Optical design and polarimetric performance of a SmallSat UV polarimeter to study interstellar dust: PUFFINS

The Polarimetry in the Ultraviolet to Find Features in INterStellar dust (PUFFINS) is a SmallSat mission concept designed to obtain ultraviolet (UV) spectropolarimetric observations to probe the interstellar dust grain properties and to understand wavelength-dependent extinction and star formation. PUFFINS plans to observe 70 UV bright target stars at varying distances within a 180-320 nm wavelength range with 0.02% polarimetric accuracy. PUFFINS uses a simple telescope design with all reflective optics coated with protected aluminum to enhance reflectivity in the UV. The telescope and the spectropolarimeter, which consists of a Wollaston prism and a half-wave retarder, have been carefully selected to be greater than Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6). The telescope is designed to exhibit negligible instrumental polarization and crosstalk, significantly reducing the time needed for polarimetric calibration in orbit. The optimum and careful selection of the target stars will enable PUFFINS to observe an expanded and well-defined sample to test the predictions by interstellar grain alignment theory in the observation phase of 9 months. This paper outlines the details of the optical and optomechanical design and evaluates the polarimetric performance of PUFFINS.

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Wide Separation Planets In Time (WISPIT): Discovery of a Gap H$\alpha$ Protoplanet WISPIT 2b with MagAO-X

Excellent (<25 mas) H$_{\alpha}$ images of the star TYC 5709-354-1 led to the discovery of a rare H$_{\alpha}$ protoplanet. This star was discovered by the WISPIT survey to have a large multi-ring transitional disk, and is hereafter WISPIT 2. Our H$_{\alpha}$ images of 2025, April 13 and April 16 discovered an accreting (H$_{\alpha}$ in emission) protoplanet: WISPIT 2b (r=309.43$\pm$1.56 mas; (~54 au deprojected), PA=242.21$\pm$0.41 degrees) likely clearing a dust-free gap between the two brightest dust rings in the transitional disk. Our SNR=12.5 detection gave an H$_{\alpha}$ ASDI contrast of (6.5$\pm$0.5)x10$^{-4}$ and a H$_{\alpha}$ line flux of (1.29$\pm$0.28)x10$^{-15}$ erg/s/cm$^2$. We also present L' photometry from LBT/LMIRcam of the planet (L'=15.30$\pm$0.05 mag) which, when coupled with an age of 5.1$^{+2.4}_{-1.3}$ Myr, yields a planet mass estimate of 5.3$\pm$1.0 Mjup from the DUSTY evolutionary models. WISPIT 2b is accreting at 2.25$^{-0.17}_{+3.75}$x10$^{-12}$ Msun/yr. WISPIT 2b is very similar to the other H$_{\alpha}$ protoplanets in terms of mass, age, flux, and accretion rate. The inclination of the system (${\it i}$=44 degrees) is also, surprisingly, very similar to the other known H$\alpha$ protoplanet systems which all cluster from 37$\leq{\it i}\leq$52 degrees. We argue this clustering has only a ~1.0% (2.6 sigma) probability of occurring randomly, and so we speculate that magnetospherical accretion might have a preferred inclination range (~37-52 degrees) for the direct (cloud free, low extinction) line of sight to the H-alpha line formation/shock region. We also find at 110mas (~15au deprojected) a close companion candidate (CC1) which may be consistent with an inner dusty 9$\pm$4 Mjup planet.

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Five New Sirius-Like White Dwarf + Main Sequence Star Systems with MagAO-X

Most known white dwarfs in multiple systems with main sequence stars have been discovered with M-type companions, because the white dwarf causes detectable UV excess and bluer colors than expected from a single M star. Surveys have shown that the number of white dwarfs in Sirius-like systems within 100 pc of the Sun is lower than expected, suggesting that white dwarfs are being missed in the glare of their main sequence companions. In this work we have leveraged the angular resolution and high-contrast capabilities, as well as optimization for visible wavelengths, of the extreme adaptive optics instrument MagAO-X to detect new white dwarf companions to AFGK stars. We present the first results of our survey with the extreme AO instrument MagAO-X, called the Pup Search, of 18 targets with seven new candidate companions, five of which are confirmed to be white dwarfs. We discuss the new detections in the context of previous surveys and other detection metric sensitivities and show that we are sensitive to a region not probed by other surveys. Finally we discuss the future of the Pup Search in light of developing technologies.

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Three Years of High-Contrast Imaging of the PDS 70 b and c Exoplanets at H{\alpha} with MagAO-X: Evidence of Strong Protoplanet H{\alpha} Variability and Circumplanetary Dust

We present 3 years of high-contrast imaging of the PDS 70 b and c accreting protoplanets with the new extreme AO system MagAO-X as part of the MaxProtoPlanetS survey of H$\alpha$ protoplanets. In 2023 and 2024 our sharp (25-27 mas FWHM); well AO corrected (20-26% Strehl), deep (2-3.6hr) images detect compact (r~30 mas; r~3 au) circumplanetary disks (CPDs) surrounding both protoplanets. Starlight scattering off the dusty outer edges of these CPDs is the likely source of the bright compact continuum light detected within ~30 mas of both planets in our simultaneously obtained continuum 668 nm filter images. After subtraction of contaminating continuum and PSF residuals with pyKLIP ADI and SDI we obtained high-contrast ASDI H$\alpha$ images of both planets in 2022, 2023 and 2024. We find the H$\alpha$ line flux of planet b fell by (8.1$\pm$1.6)x10$^{-16}$ ergs/s/cm$^2$ a factor of 4.6 drop in flux from 2022 to 2023. In March 2024, planet b continued to be faint with just a slight 1.6x rise to an H$\alpha$ line flux of (3.64$\pm$0.87)x10$^{-16}$ ergs/s/cm$^2$. For c we measure a significant increase of (2.74$\pm$0.51)x10$^{-16}$ ergs/s/cm$^2$ from 2023 to 2024 which is a factor of 2.3x increase. So both protoplanets have recently experienced significant H$\alpha$ variability with ~1 yr sampling. In 2024, planet c is brighter than b: as c is brightening and b generally fading. We also tentatively detect one new point source "CC3" inside the inner disk (~49 mas; at PA~295 deg; 2024) with orbital motion roughly consistent with a ~5.6 au orbit.

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Phasing the Giant Magellan Telescope: Lab Experiments and First On-sky Demonstration

The large apertures of the upcoming generation of Giant Segmented Mirror Telescopes will enable unprecedented angular resolutions that scale as $\propto$ $\lambda$/D and higher sensitivities that scale as $D^4$ for point sources corrected by adaptive optics. However, all will have pupil segmentation caused by mechanical struts holding up the secondary mirror [European Extremely Large Telescope and Thirty Meter Telescope] or intrinsically, by design, as in the Giant Magellan Telescope. These gaps will be separated by more than a typical atmospheric coherence length (Fried Parameter). The pupil fragmentation at scales larger than the typical atmospheric coherence length, combined with wavefront sensors with weak or ambiguous sensitivity to differential piston, can introduce differential piston areas of the wavefront known as "petal modes". Commonly used wavefront sensors, such as a pyramid WFS, also struggle with phase wrapping caused by >$\lambda$/2 differential piston WFE. We have developed the holographic dispersed fringe sensor, a single pupil-plane optic that employs holography to interfere the dispersed light from each segment onto different spatial locations in the focal plane to sense and correct differential piston between the segments. This allows for a very high and linear dynamic piston sensing range of approximately $\pm$10 $\mu$m. We have begun the initial attempts at phasing a segmented pupil utilizing the HDFS on the High Contrast Adaptive optics phasing Testbed and the Extreme Magellan Adaptive Optics instrument (MagAO-X) at the University of Arizona. Additionally, we have demonstrated use of the HDFS as a differential piston sensor on-sky for the first time. We were able to phase each segment to within $\pm\lambda$/11.3 residual piston WFE ($\lambda$ = 800 nm) of a reference segment and achieved ~50 nm RMS residual piston WFE across the aperture in poor seeing conditions.

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MagAO-X: Commissioning Results and Status of Ongoing Upgrades

MagAO-X is the coronagraphic extreme adaptive optics system for the 6.5 m Magellan Clay Telescope. We report the results of commissioning the first phase of MagAO-X. Components now available for routine observations include: the >2 kHz high-order control loop consisting of a 97 actuator woofer deformable mirror (DM), a 2040 actuator tweeter DM, and a modulated pyramid wavefront sensor (WFS); classical Lyot coronagraphs with integrated low-order (LO) WFS and control using a third 97-actuator non-common path correcting (NCPC) DM; broad band imaging in g, r, i, and z filters with two EMCCDs; simultaneous differential imaging in H-alpha; and integral field spectroscopy with the VIS-X module. Early science results include the discovery of an H-alpha jet, images of accreting protoplanets at H-alpha, images of young extrasolar giant planets in the optical, discovery of new white dwarf companions, resolved images of evolved stars, and high-contrast images of circumstellar disks in scattered light in g-band (500 nm). We have commenced an upgrade program, called "Phase II", to enable high-contrast observations at the smallest inner working angles possible. These upgrades include a new 952 actuator NCPC DM to enable coronagraphic wavefront control; phase induced amplitude apodization coronagraphs; new fast cameras for LOWFS and Lyot-LOWFS; and real-time computer upgrades. We will report the status of these upgrades and results of first on-sky testing in March-May 2024.

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High-Contrast Imaging at First-Light of the GMT: The Preliminary Design of GMagAO-X

We present the preliminary design of GMagAO-X, the first-light high-contrast imager planned for the Giant Magellan Telescope. GMagAO-X will realize the revolutionary increase in spatial resolution and sensitivity provided by the 25 m GMT. It will enable, for the first time, the spectroscopic characterization of nearby potentially habitable terrestrial exoplanets orbiting late-type stars. Additional science cases include: reflected light characterization of mature giant planets; measurement of young extrasolar giant planet variability; characterization of circumstellar disks at unprecedented spatial resolution; characterization of benchmark stellar atmospheres at high spectral resolution; and mapping of resolved objects such as giant stars and asteroids. These, and many more, science cases will be enabled by a 21,000 actuator extreme adaptive optics system, a coronagraphic wavefront control system, and a suite of imagers and spectrographs. We will review the science-driven performance requirements for GMagAO-X, which include achieving a Strehl ratio of 70% at 800 nm on 8th mag and brighter stars, and post-processed characterization at astrophysical flux-ratios of 1e-7 at 4 lambda/D (26 mas at 800 nm) separation. We will provide an overview of the resulting mechanical, optical, and software designs optimized to deliver this performance. We will also discuss the interfaces to the GMT itself, and the concept of operations. We will present an overview of our end-to-end performance modeling and simulations, including the control of segment phasing, as well as an overview of prototype lab demonstrations. Finally, we will review the results of Preliminary Design Review held in February, 2024.

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GMagAO-X: A First Light Coronagraphic Adaptive Optics System for the GMT

GMagAO-X is a visible to NIR extreme adaptive optics (ExAO) system that will be used at first light for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). GMagAO-X is designed to deliver diffraction-limited performance at visible and NIR wavelengths (6 to 10 mas) and contrasts on the order of $10^{-7}$. The primary science case of GMagAO-X will be the characterization of mature, and potentially habitable, exoplanets in reflected light. GMagAO-X employs a woofer-tweeter system and includes segment phasing control. The tweeter is a 21,000 actuator segmented deformable mirror (DM), composed of seven individual 3,000 actuator DMs. This new ExAO framework of seven DMs working in parallel to produce a 21,000 actuator DM significantly surpasses any current or near future actuator count for a monolithic DM architecture. Bootstrapping, phasing, and high order sensing are enabled by a multi-stage wavefront sensing system. GMT's unprecedented 25.4 m aperture composed of seven segments brings a new challenge of co-phasing massive mirrors to 1/100th of a wavelength. The primary mirror segments of the GMT are separated by large >30 cm gaps so there will be fluctuations in optical path length (piston) across the pupil due to vibration of the segments, atmospheric conditions, etc. We have developed the High Contrast Adaptive-optics Testbed (HCAT) to test new wavefront sensing and control approaches for GMT and GMagAO-X, such as the holographic dispersed fringe sensor (HDFS), and the new ExAO parallel DM concept for correcting aberrations across a segmented pupil. The CoDR for GMagAO-X was held in September 2021 and a preliminary design review is planned for early 2024. In this paper we will discuss the science cases and requirements for the overall architecture of GMagAO-X, as well as the current efforts to prototype the novel hardware components and new wavefront sensing and control concepts for GMagAO-X on HCAT.

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HIP 67506 C: MagAO-X Confirmation of a New Low-Mass Stellar Companion to HIP 67506 A

We report the confirmation of HIP 67506 C, a new stellar companion to HIP 67506 A. We previously reported a candidate signal at 2$λ$/D (240~mas) in L$^{\prime}$ in MagAO/Clio imaging using the binary differential imaging technique. Several additional indirect signals showed that the candidate signal merited follow-up: significant astrometric acceleration in Gaia DR3, Hipparcos-Gaia proper motion anomaly, and overluminosity compared to single main sequence stars. We confirmed the companion, HIP 67506 C, at 0.1" with MagAO-X in April, 2022. We characterized HIP 67506 C MagAO-X photometry and astrometry, and estimated spectral type K7-M2; we also re-evaluated HIP 67506 A in light of the close companion. Additionally we show that a previously identified 9" companion, HIP 67506 B, is a much further distant unassociated background star. We also discuss the utility of indirect signposts in identifying small inner working angle candidate companions.

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MagAO-X: current status and plans for Phase II

We present a status update for MagAO-X, a 2000 actuator, 3.6 kHz adaptive optics and coronagraph system for the Magellan Clay 6.5 m telescope. MagAO-X is optimized for high contrast imaging at visible wavelengths. Our primary science goals are detection and characterization of Solar System-like exoplanets, ranging from very young, still-accreting planets detected at H-alpha, to older temperate planets which will be characterized using reflected starlight. First light was in Dec, 2019, but subsequent commissioning runs were canceled due to COVID-19. In the interim, MagAO-X has served as a lab testbed. Highlights include implementation of several focal plane and low-order wavefront sensing algorithms, development of a new predictive control algorithm, and the addition of an IFU module. MagAO-X also serves as the AO system for the Giant Magellan Telescope High Contrast Adaptive Optics Testbed. We will provide an overview of these projects, and report the results of our commissioning and science run in April, 2022. Finally, we will present the status of a comprehensive upgrade to MagAO-X to enable extreme-contrast characterization of exoplanets in reflected light. These upgrades include a new post-AO 1000-actuator deformable mirror inside the coronagraph, latest generation sCMOS detectors for wavefront sensing, optimized PIAACMC coronagraphs, and computing system upgrades. When these Phase II upgrades are complete we plan to conduct a survey of nearby exoplanets in reflected light.

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The conceptual design of GMagAO-X: visible wavelength high contrast imaging with GMT

We present the conceptual design of GMagAO-X, an extreme adaptive optics system for the 25 m Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). We are developing GMagAO-X to be available at or shortly after first-light of the GMT, to enable early high contrast exoplanet science in response to the Astro2020 recommendations. A key science goal is the characterization of nearby potentially habitable terrestrial worlds. GMagAO-Xis a woofer-tweeter system, with integrated segment phasing control. The tweeter is a 21,000 actuator segmented deformable mirror, composed of seven 3000 actuator segments. A multi-stage wavefront sensing system provides for bootstrapping, phasing, and high order sensing. The entire instrument is mounted in a rotator to provide gravity invariance. After the main AO system, visible (g to y) and near-IR (Y to H) science channels contain integrated coronagraphic wavefront control systems. The fully corrected and, optionally, coronagraphically filtered beams will then be fed to a suite of focal plane instrumentation including imagers and spectrographs. This will include existing facility instruments at GMT via fiber feeds. To assess the design we have developed an end-to-end frequency-domain modeling framework for assessing the performance of GMagAO-X. The dynamics of the many closed-loop feedback control systems are then modeled. Finally, we employ a frequency-domain model of post-processing algorithms to analyze the final post-processed sensitivity. The CoDR for GMagAO-X was held in September, 2021. Here we present an overview of the science cases, instrument design, expected performance, and concept of operations for GMagAO-X.

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The Optical and Mechanical Design for the 21,000 Actuator ExAO System for the Giant Magellan Telescope: GMagAO-X

GMagAO-X is the near first light ExAO coronagraphic instrument for the 25.4m GMT. It is designed for a slot on the folded port of the GMT. To meet the strict ExAO fitting and servo error requirement (<90nm rms WFE), GMagAO-X must have 21,000 actuator DM capable of >2KHz correction speeds. To minimize wavefront/segment piston error GMagAO-X has an interferometric beam combiner on a vibration isolated table, as part of this "21,000 actuator parallel DM". Piston errors are sensed by a Holographic Dispersed Fringe Sensor (HDFS). In addition to a coronagraph, it has a post-coronagraphic Lyot Low Order WFS (LLOWFS) to sense non-common path (NCP) errors. The LLOWFS drives a non-common path DM (NCP DM) to correct those NCP errors. GMagAO-X obtains high-contrast science and wavefront sensing in the visible and/or the NIR. Here we present our successful externally reviewed (Sept. 2021) CoDR optical-mechanical design that satisfies GMagAO-X's top-level science requirements and is compliant with the GMT instrument requirements and only requires COTS parts.

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The Versatile CubeSat Telescope: Going to Large Apertures in Small Spacecraft

The design of a CubeSat telescope for academic research purposes must balance complicated optical and structural designs with cost to maximize performance in extreme environments. Increasing the CubeSat size (eg. 6U to 12U) will increase the potential optical performance, but the cost will increase in kind. Recent developments in diamond-turning have increased the accessibility of aspheric aluminum mirrors, enabling a cost-effective regime of well-corrected nanosatellite telescopes. We present an all-aluminum versatile CubeSat telescope (VCT) platform that optimizes performance, cost, and schedule at a relatively large 95 mm aperture and 0.4 degree diffraction limited full field of view stablized by MEMS fine-steering modules. This study features a new design tool that permits easy characterization of performance degradation as a function of spacecraft thermal and structural disturbances. We will present details including the trade between on- and off-axis implementations of the VCT, thermal stability requirements and finite-element analysis, and launch survival considerations. The VCT is suitable for a range of CubeSat borne applications, which provides an affordable platform for astronomy, Earth-imaging, and optical communications.

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Development of the Arizona Robotic Telescope Network

The Arizona Robotic Telescope Network (ARTN) project is a long term effort to develop a system of telescopes to carry out a flexible program of PI observing, survey projects, and time domain astrophysics including monitoring, rapid response, and transient/target-of-opportunity followup. Steward Observatory operates and shares in several 1-3m class telescopes with quality sites and instrumentation, largely operated in classical modes. Science programs suited to these telescopes are limited by scheduling flexibility and people-power of available observers. Our goal is to adapt these facilities for multiple co-existing queued programs, interrupt capability, remote/robotic operation, and delivery of reduced data. In the long term, planning for the LSST era, we envision an automated system coordinating across multiple telescopes and sites, where alerts can trigger followup, classification, and triggering of further observations if required, such as followup imaging that can trigger spectroscopy. We are updating telescope control systems and software to implement this system in stages, beginning with the Kuiper 61'' and Vatican Observatory 1.8-m telescopes. The Kuiper 61'' and its Mont4K camera can now be controlled and queue-scheduled by the RTS2 observatory control software, and operated from a remote room at Steward. We discuss science and technical requirements for ARTN, and some of the challenges in adapting heterogenous legacy facilities, scheduling, data pipelines, and maintaining capabilities for a diverse user base.

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Optical and mechanical design of the extreme AO coronagraphic instrument MagAO-X

Here we review the current optical mechanical design of MagAO-X. The project is post-PDR and has finished the design phase. The design presented here is the baseline to which all the optics and mechanics have been fabricated. The optical/mechanical performance of this novel extreme AO design will be presented here for the first time. Some highlights of the design are: 1) a floating, but height stabilized, optical table; 2) a Woofer tweeter (2040 actuator BMC MEMS DM) design where the Woofer can be the current f/16 MagAO ASM or, more likely, fed by the facility f/11 static secondary to an ALPAO DM97 woofer; 3) 22 very compact optical mounts that have a novel locking clamp for additional thermal and vibrational stability; 4) A series of four pairs of super-polished off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirrors with a relatively wide FOV by matched OAP clocking; 5) an advanced very broadband (0.5-1.7micron) ADC design; 6) A Pyramid (PWFS), and post-coronagraphic LOWFS NCP wavefront sensor; 7) a vAPP coronagraph for starlight suppression. Currently all the OAPs have just been delivered, and all the rest of the optics are in the lab. Most of the major mechanical parts are in the lab or instrument, and alignment of the optics has occurred for some of the optics (like the PWFS) and most of the mounts. First light should be in 2019A.

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MagAO-X: project status and first laboratory results

MagAO-X is an entirely new "extreme" adaptive optics system for the Magellan Clay 6.5 m telescope, funded by the NSF MRI program starting in Sep 2016. The key science goal of MagAO-X is high-contrast imaging of accreting protoplanets at H$α$. With 2040 actuators operating at up to 3630 Hz, MagAO-X will deliver high Strehls (>70%), high resolution (19 mas), and high contrast ($< 1\times10^{-4}$) at H$α$ (656 nm). We present an overview of the MagAO-X system, review the system design, and discuss the current project status.

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Status Update and Closed-Loop Performance of the Magellan Adaptive Optics VisAO Camera

We present laboratory results of the closed-loop performance of the Magellan Adaptive Optics (AO) Adaptive Secondary Mirror (ASM), pyramid wavefront sensor (PWFS), and VisAO visible adaptive optics camera. The Magellan AO system is a 585-actuator low-emissivity high-throughput system scheduled for first light on the 6.5 meter Magellan Clay telescope in November 2012. Using a dichroic beamsplitter near the telescope focal plane, the AO system will be able to simultaneously perform visible (500-1000 nm) AO science with our VisAO camera and either 10 micron or 3-5 micron science using either the BLINC/MIRAC4 or CLIO cameras, respectively. The ASM, PWS, and VisAO camera have undergone final system tests in the solar test tower at the Arcetri Institute in Florence, Italy, reaching Strehls of 37% in i'-band with 400 modes and simulated turbulence of 14 cm ro at v-band. We present images and test results of the assembled VisAO system, which includes our prototype advanced Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector (ADC), prototype calcite Wollaston prisms for SDI imaging, and a suite of beamsplitters, filters, and other optics. Our advanced ADC performs in the lab as designed and is a 58% improvement over conventional ADC designs. We also present images and results of our unique Calibration Return Optic (CRO) test system and the ASM, which has successfully run in closed- loop at 1kHz. The CRO test is a retro reflecting optical test that allows us to test the ASM off-sky in close-loop using an artificial star formed by a fiber source.

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