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The quality of an astronomical site is often measured by the amount of turbulence in the atmosphere above it. Turbulence causes a degradation of the resolution of telescopes and needs to be known if adaptive optics is to be used to mitigate it. Common techniques to measure this turbulence use the amount of image motion or scintillation used during observations of bright stars using small telescopes.  Such an instrument, RINGSS, uses defocused images of stars to measure turbulence as a function of height. 
 

In this project we will investigate developing a version of the RINGSS instrument that uses an infrared detector to allow the instrument to work in daytime. This will lead to the first instrument capable of monitoring turbulence for full 24-hour periods and significantly increase the instrument uses cases going beyond astronomy, including optical communications and satellite tracking. 
 

This project will involve hands-on work to develop and operate the instrument on Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring as well as verification campaign with other instruments in an international setting. The project is suited to a candidate interested in instrumentation, observation and turbulence theory.