Aloha, Welcome or Bienvenue to David Le Mignant's page at the W. M. Keck Observatory!

Last update: Nov. 2007:

I am back full-time with Keck Observatory in Waimea, working as Adaptive Optics Instrument Scientist. I am part of the design team for the Keck Next Generation Adaptive Optics (NGAO), with particular focus on the Science Operations (about half of my time). I still work with the Keck AO operations team and the AO development for Keck I LGS. The remaining of my time is spent on astronomy research, trying to resolve the engima of a prototype pre-planetary nebula...

Adaptive Optics (AO) is the most important revolution in optical observational astronomy since Galileo first pointed a telescope at the heavens.

Well,.. I'll let you think about that quote!!.. There are many technical discoveries and applications that have been keys to major advances in observational astronomy (CCDs and IR arrays, space telescopes, mm and radio astronomy, etc); Similarly, Adaptive Optics is shaping the future of ground-based optical and near infrared astronomical instrumentation.

High spatial resolution astronomy and its associated instrumentation is a fascinating research field to me and I have the great opportunity to work in an Observatory which pioneers this research and its applications.

The focus of my activities has been to develop, implement and operate new tools for cutting-edge observational astronomy at W. M. Keck Observatory like Natural Guide Star and Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics. This involves working with our electronic and software engineers as we develop new sub-systems for the Keck Adaptive Optics. During the integration phase of the instruments, I have worked with other scientists at Keck to characterize the performance of each sub-system. This has later included working on the implementation and integration aspects with other sub-systems, investigating operation strategies, writing and implementing the operation software.
I am also an advocate for fully-funded facility-class instrumentation: user friendly instrumentation and operations that include pre-observing, observing and post-observing tools.

I enjoy observing as well as the data reduction and analysis process; I strive to allocate more time to complete this observational aspect of my work with a theoretical slant: study the underlying physics to develop numerical simulation and better understand how the astrophysical processes take place tens, hundreds, thousands, millions or even billions of light years away from our planet... !

• A snapshot for my resume (needs an update) and a list of publications and other communication materials. A statement of research interests is available on request.

• new: Some work in-progress:
  • The Resource Twiki page for the NGAO, particularly for the Science Operations

  • The Resource Twiki page for the AO workbench for Hawaii CC
  • A AO Users' page at the CfAO, with the program of the workshop on Quantitative Astronomical AO Science
  • The Resource Twiki page for the Akamai Observatory SHort Course.
• Selected publications:
  • Last: Adaptive Optics Imaging of IRAS 18276-1431: a bipolar pre-planetary nebula with circumstellar searchlight beams and arcs:
    Sanchez Contreras et al. 2007, ApJ, 656, pp1150-1166
  • The W. M. Keck Observatory LGS-AO System: Overview.
    P. L. Wizinowich, et al. 2006, PASP, 118, 297-309 [PDF 2.16Mb]
  • The W. M. Keck Observatory LGS-AO System: Performance Characterization.
    M.A. van Dam et al. 2006, PASP, 118, 310-318 [PDF 217Kb]
  • LGS AO operations at the W. M. Keck Observatory
    (presented at the SPIE, Orlando in 2006)
    • D. Le Mignant et al. 2006, SPIE Proc., 6270-12 [PDF 732Kb]
    • D. Le Mignant et al. 2006, SPIE Proc., 6272-1 [PDF 694Kb]
  • A direct evidence of the presence of jet-like winds in the early phase of a preplanetary nebula:
    Sahai et al. 2005, ApJL, 622, 53.
  • A high spatial resolution survey of Io global volcanic activity:
    Marchis et al. 2005, Icarus, 176, pp96-122

• I am working with R. Sahai, C. Sanchez-Contreras, M Morris and others on the shaping of pre-planetary nebulae, as seen in these Keck LGSAO and NGSAO images of PPNe.

• I have been the lead instructor for the Akamai Observatory Short Course since 2004. The short course is part of the Akamai Internship Program funded by the Center for Adaptive Optics (CfAO). This is a unique opportunity for students from Hawaii to get an internship at the Observatories in electronic, mechanical, software engineering or in astronomy.
  [ Akamai Program | Akamai 2006 | Unique Keck experience (2003) | 2004 in the News ].

• Update on the Keck AO Development Status and FY06 Plan.
• The Keck AO pages: [ Main | LGS-AO | Optics ]
• The CfAO has also funded two projects that I have worked on as co-PI and PI: the Keck NGS-AO Performance Characterization [ web | paper ] and the Science Demonstration and Performance Chacterization for the Keck LGS-AO.
• Update on the work on the NIRC2 coronagraphy:
  • Draft overall paper, still a work to be completed: [pdf (564Kb)].
  • The summary paper on the NIRC2 coronagraphy imaging presented at the HST calibration meeting by Paul. [pdf (112Kb)].
• Link to some notes on OSIRIS DRP.

Did I mention? a personal life too?...

• Eleta, Youenn and I have a picture page which includes many testimonies of our lucky and joyful presence on Earth.