abstract

Title:

Technical and scientific prospects of the GLAS laser beacon on the WHT

Authors:

R.G.M. Rutten

Abstract:

The Rayleigh laser beacon project on the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope, GLAS, will open nearly all of the visible sky to adaptive optics exploitation. Together with the existing adaptive optics system and the available science instruments, the advent of the laser will facilitate many more science targets to become accessible. This will allow large surveys of many targets at high spatial resolution to be carried out, rather than the snap shot observations with natural guide star AO systems. This presentation will introduce the technical challenges and scientific opportunities offered by the GLAS project.