WP08000
Workpackage WP08000 and its subworkpackages sWP08100, sWP08200, are responsible for the site characterization.
WP08000 is devoted to the analysis of medium and high altitude turbulence. The location of these turbulent layers varies from place to place, or even from season to season at a given observatory. The aim of this WP is to study this turbulence above the observatories of the Canary Islands. Two instruments are being designed and constructed to operate at the Observatorio del Teide (Tenerife) and at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (La Palma): a wide-field wavefront sensor and a long-base SHABAR.
WP08000, led by IAC, coordinates the development of site characterization in compliance with general project methodology, providing feedback to the project system engineering WP03000 and managing WP01000. It defines technical requirements from the SRD (WP02000). It develops specific site characterization equipment and carry out a site characterization campaign. It gives essential inputs (turbulences profiles) for the AO/MCAO (WP06000).
- sWP08100, led by IAC, designs and constructs two long baseline SHABARS in a first phase. In a second phase, it makes measurement campaigns with the SHABARs in both sites and analyses the results. The first results are foreseen for spring 2009. Other sWP08100 participants are UU, INAF and RSAS.
- sWP08200 is led by RSAS. Its objective is to design, build and operate two Wide-Field WaveFront Sensors (WFWFS) at the SST and at the VTT or GREGOR. The wavefront sensors will operate for at least five months. The first phase is to define the alternatives for the WFWFS, the second phase for the their design and construction. The third and last phase is devoted to the measurement campaigns with the WFWFS at the two sites and to the data analysis. The final aim is a) to understand the isoplanatic patch attainable with 1-3 AO systems operating at different conjugate heights and b) to compare high-altitude seeing on La Palma and Tenerife. The first results are foreseen for spring 2009. Other sWP08200 participants are KIS and AISAS.