Tunable Laser Techniques for Improving the Precision of Optical Astronomy

Published

September 13, 2012

Author(s)

Keith R. Lykke, Claire E. Cramer, John T. Woodward IV, Steven W. Brown, Ping-Shine Shaw

Abstract

Improving the precision of optical astronomy requires not only new telescopes and instrumentation, but also advances in observing protocols, calibrations and data analysis. The Laser Applications Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland, has been applying advances in detector metrology and tunable laser calibrations to problems in astronomy since 2007. Using similar measurement techniques, we have addressed a number of seemingly disparate issues. In each case, we rely on robust, commercially-available laboratory technology that is readily adapted to use at an observatory. In this paper, we give an overview of these techniques.

Proceedings Title

SPIE Proceedings: "Tunable Laser Techniques for Improving the Precision of Optical Astronomy".

Conference Dates

July 1-6, 2012

Conference Location

Amsterdam

Conference Title

SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

calibration, Laser, optical astronomy, telescopes, photometry

Citation

Lykke, K. , Cramer, C. , Woodward, J. , Brown, S. and Shaw, P. (2012), Tunable Laser Techniques for Improving the Precision of Optical Astronomy, SPIE Proceedings: "Tunable Laser Techniques for Improving the Precision of Optical Astronomy"., Amsterdam, -1 (Accessed October 10, 2025)