Adaptive vibration cancellation in adaptive optics

The next generation adaptive optics instrument, MAVIS, is set to be deployed on the ESO VLT in the next decade. The image quality of MAVIS has such high requirements that telescope vibrations must be actively cancelled within the adaptive optics control loop. In recent years, ESO has developed and Adaptive Vibration Cancellation (AVC) technique to address this problem on other instruments. A student undertaking this project will review the existing methods, and assess their suitability in MAVIS, including implementation and testing of the method in simulated conditions.

Student outcomes include:

  1. Evaluation of adaptive vibration cancellation techniques for achieving high-quality imaging.

  2. Understanding of the challenges in canceling telescope vibrations within the adaptive optics control loop.

  3. Skill development in implementing and testing the Adaptive Vibration Cancellation (AVC) technique in simulated conditions.

  4. Practical experience in assessing the suitability of AVC methods for the MAVIS instrument.

  5. Insight into optimizing image quality through active cancellation of telescope vibrations.

Experience in Python is required, and a background in control theory is highly valued.