NIRSPAO CLS LGS-AO Startup & Checkout

Date and operator

UT Date:
Operator(s):

Startup Index

A. Startup (SA)

  1. In any of the ThinClients, start the VNC sessions:
    • In the ThinClient background menu, select VNC Viewer input:
      • svncserver2:3
    • Alternatively, in the ThinClient background menu, select Local xterm and type:
      • vncviewer svncserver2:3
    • Use the standard login info for k2obsao.
  2. Within the k2ao-k2obsao-control1 VNC desktop, from the pulldown menu, select:
    LGS-AO Control Menu → Start all LGS-AO software
  3. Wait about 3 minutes for all the GUIs to come up and position themselves.
  4. Load the file idl_opensYYMMDD.sav in Spiral.
  5. Open the MAGIQ GUI and map the OA starlist:
    • In the background menu of k2ao-k2obsao-control0 select:
      K2 Guider Eavesdropping → Start Observer UI
    • In MAGIQ File → Map OA Starlist
  6. Start and configure the Strehl tool:
    • In the background menu of k2ao-k2obsao-control0 select:
      K2 AO Tools → AO OPS → Strehl Tool
    • Select AUTOFIND OFF.
    • Select AUTO UPDATE IMAGE ON.
  7. Load the current starlist into the Aoacq GUI by hitting the button Load under the field Target.
  8. Use this page to record values.
Back to Startup Index

B. Startup (Summit)

  1. Start the VNC viewer via the pull-down:
    • VNC Menu → Start Acquisition Viewer
Back to Startup Index

C. Setup NIRSPEC for Checkout

Use the NIRSPEC numbered account VNCs corresponding to tonight's observations to record a SCAM background image:

  1. On the NIRSPEC instrument control:
    • Hatch → Closed (you can also type hatch closed on a a nirspec xterm)
    • Filter → FeII (The AO stop should stay selected automatically)
  2. On a nirspec xterm type:
    • tint2 5 (Assuming you will observe a ~10th mag engineering star)
    • coadd2 1
    • goi2
  3. On the SCAM Ginga display:
    • NIRSPEC_SCAM → Use last as subtraction
    • Select Difference channel

Back to Startup Index

D. NGS-AO Checkout

  1. From MAORI Menu → Scripts → Night-time setup
      Select options:
    • LGS-AO
    • Beam splitter
  2. Select an engineering star from the starlist (about an hour to the East)
  3. Slew to calibration star
  4. On a nirspec xterm type slitpa 0 while slewing to the star
  5. In AoAcq widget:
    • Set:
      AO ModeNGS-AO
      DAROff
      RefAO SCAM
    • Setup Bench
  6. From MAORI Menu → Start Fault Detector
  7. On K2 CLS Sequencer GUI, select Scripts → Start of Night to enable night time mode.
    • a pop-up may ask Are you sure. Answer yes.
    • A second pop-up may inform you that All updates are complete.
  • Wait till sunset, dome open...
  • Request that OA calls Space Command to let them know we are intending to propagate the Keck 2 laser.
  1. Ask the OA for the AO SCAM PO.
  2. Click Acquire Star in the Aoacq GUI.
  3. Wait till loops are closed and watch for varying WFS intensity (if sky is bright and changing).
  4. If WFS intensity decreases with time, hit Record bkg 30" E in the WFS Intensity GUI.
    5. Repeat until WFS intensity is constant.
  5. Once WFS intensity is fairly constant, take a new background
  6. In the Optimization Tool:
    • Set the optimizer mode to NGS.
    • Hit TRIGGER to run a diagnostic.
    • When completed, click SET OPT GAIN.
    • Hit TRIGGER to run another diagnostic.
    • Repeat until current gain matches recommended gain.
  7. Use the NIRSPEC numbered account VNCs corresponding to tonight's observations to record NIRSPEC calibration images:
    1. On the NIRSPEC instrument control:
      • Hatch → Open (you can also type hatch open on a a nirspec xterm)
      • Make sure that you already have FeII + AO
    2. On a nirspec xterm type:
      • object engXXX (optional, name of the engineering star)
      • tint2 5
      • coadd2 1
      • goi2
    The previous setup should get 1000 - 1500 peak counts with the loops closed on a ~10th mag engineering star, as shown in this example SCAM NGS image.
  8. Measure and record the FWHM of the NGSAO-corrected image on SCAM:
    • SCAM Ginga display Difference channel → Pick → left-click on the star
    • Measured FWHM (1 SCAM pixel = 14.9 mas): milli-arcsec.
  9. Record telescope focus from FACSUM: mm.
  10. On the MAORI GUI, open the DM loop but keep the TT loop closed.
  11. On a nirspec xterm type:
    • tint2 10
    • goi2
  12. Measure and record the FWHM of the open-loop image on SCAM. A typical FWHM value in good seeing is 10-15 pixels with peak counts ~200 ADU as shown in this SCAM seeing image:
    • SCAM Ginga display Difference channel → Pick → left-click on the star
    • Measured FWHM (1 SCAM pixel = 14.9 mas): arcsec.
  13. Record star FWHM from the ACAMTOOL:
    • Set tint to 1.0 sec.
    • goi.
    • Measured FWHM: arcsec.
    • File number:
  14. In the AO acquisition GUI, Loops → Open.
Back to Startup Index

E. Laser Alignment at Zenith

  1. Slew to LASER ZENITH at OPT AXIS PO
  2. In AoAcq widget:
    • Set:
      AO Mode LGS-AO
      DAR Off
      Ref OPT AXIS
    • Wait until telescope is slewing to LASER ZENITH
    • Setup Bench
      Select Sodium Dichroic
  3. The rotator should be set automatically to 0 degrees in vertical angle mode
  4. When bench setup is done, click Cal Setup in ACAM. A popup window indicates that the TELFOCUS value will change by about +3.5mm to correct for the ORKID optics. Click on Yes and wait for the Acamtool to display: Ready to take image
  5. WAIT FOR 12 DEG TWILIGHT, THEN REQUEST PROPAGATION
  6. Propagate laser from CLS Sequencer GUI:
    • Click INITIALIZE and wait for status to indicate initialized.
    • Click ALIGN and wait for status to indicate aligned.
    • Click PROPAGATE.
  7. Run laser alignment procedure in the ACAM Tool:
    1. Set Tint (s) to 5 seconds.
    2. Take an exposure by hitting goi.
    3. Click COARSE to center spot on ACAM.
    4. Repeat goi and COARSE until you see light on the WFS
    5. Click HOME.
    6. A popup may ask to update the LGSAO POs. The answer is YES.
    7. Review the ACAM image:
      • If the laser spot size is 1.8 arcsec or smaller skip the Automated and Manual focus because spot size is good enough. Skip to fine alignment if no adjustment is required.
      • If the spot size is larger try to refocus the laser:
        • Automated method:
          1. Click on Focus LTA on ACAM Tool. This will take a series of sub frames centered on the laser spot. Focus will change between images.
          2. Plot will display the focus curve for both the x and y axis.
          3. In the xterm that pops up, enter your estimated BTOB focus value or the best fit BTOB focus value provided in the terminal output.
        • Manual method:
          1. Disable temperature compensation:
            • on CLS sequencer GUI, click on the focus icon located on right hand side to bring up the BTOB Focus Compensation GUI
            • At the top fo the BTOB Focus compensation GUI toggle Enabled to disabled.
          2. From kNobsao@kNaoserver type s lsxf to determine intial focus value.
          3. Save an ACAM image and then modify the lsxf(mm) value by 0.5 mm (initial guess) and repeat the ACAM image.
          4. Analyze images for smallest spot (between 1.0-2.0 arcseconds FWHM, seeing dependent).
          5. Set lsxf(mm) to best value
          6. on the BTOB Focus Compensation GUI, click Set Base Focus (light blue button on GUI).
          7. on the BTOB Focus Compensation GUI, toggle back to Enable (button at top of GUI). XF value should remain fixed.
        • Record BTOB Focus Compensation mm
    8. Click FINE.
      Wait for Offload complete or Alignment complete.
    9. Click DONE.
  8. In the AO acquisition GUI, Loops → Open.
  9. Shutter the laser by clicking SHUTTER on the CLS Sequencer GUI.
  10. Ask the OA to return TELFOCUS back to the value recorded during the NGS checkout.
Back to Startup Index

F. LGS-AO Checkout

  1. Slew to a 10-14 magnitude star (from the observer's target list or close to the observer's first target)
  2. Type slitpa 0 on any nirspec xterm while slewing to the engineering star.
  3. Set the telescope PO to SCAM
  4. In AoAcq widget:
    • Set:
      AO Mode LGS-AO
      DAR Acq & Track
      Ref AO SCAM
    • Setup Bench
      Select sodium Dichroic
  5. Acquire star (wait for good image sharpening)
  6. In the Optimization Tool:
    • Set the optimizer mode to STRAP.
    • Hit TRIGGER to run a diagnostic.
    • When completed, click SET OPT GAIN.
    • Hit TRIGGER to run another diagnostic.
    • Repeat until current TT gain matches recommended TT gain... Then:
      • Copy DIAG # into TURB PS field in optimization tool.
      • Record
    • Set the optimizer mode to LGS:
      • Tweak Frame Rate & DM gain in MAORI, try again
      • if rate changed, take another sky with reclose loops
  7. Take a LGSAO-corrected image with SCAM:
    1. Let the LBWFS RMS and dfoc settle
    2. On the NIRSPEC instrument control:
      • Make sure that the Hatch is Open
      • Make sure that you already have FeII + AO
    3. On a nirspec xterm type:
      • tint2 5
      • coadd2 1
      • goi2
    The previous setup should get 1000 - 1500 peak counts with the loops closed on a ~10th mag engineering star, as shown in this example SCAM LGS image.
  8. Measure and record the FWHM of the LGSAO-corrected image on SCAM:
    • SCAM Ginga display Difference channel → Pick → left-click on the star
    • Measured FWHM (1 SCAM pixel = 14.9 mas): milli-arcsec
  9. In the AO acquisition GUI, Loops → Open.
  10. Shutter the laser by clicking SHUTTER on the CLS Sequencer GUI.
Back to Startup Index

G. Submit the form

Please, hit the SUBMIT button to store data ⟹

Back to Startup Index
Last modified: 01/05/2023 07:37
Send questions or comments to:AO Support

The information on this page is the property of the W. M. Keck Observatory. The contents of this page or any part thereof shall not be copied or otherwise reproduced or transferred to other documents or used or disclosed to others for any purpose other than observing support at the W. M. Keck Observatory and the subsequent analysis and publication of scientific data obtained from observations conducted at the W. M. Keck Observatory. All rights reserved. © W. M. Keck Observatory.