Extragalactic fields optimized for adaptive optics

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Glazebrook, Karl | 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences | Journal article

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Extragalactic fields optimized for adaptive optics

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/154700

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Title: Extragalactic fields optimized for adaptive optics
Author(s): Damjanov, Ivana; Abraham, Roberto G.; Glazebrook, Karl; McGregor, Peter; Rigaut, Francois; McCarthy, Patrick J.; Brinchmann, Jarle; Cuillandre, Jean-Charles; Mellier, Yannick; McCracken, Henry Joy; Hudelot, Patrick; Monet, David
Abstract: In this paper we present the coordinates of 67 55' x 55' patches of sky which have the rare combination of both high stellar surface density (>0.5 arcmin^{-2} with 13<R<16.5 mag) and low extinction (E(B-V)<0.1). These fields are ideal for adaptive-optics based follow-up of extragalactic targets. One region of sky, situated near Baade's Window, contains most of the patches we have identified. Our optimal field, centered at RA: 7h24m3s, Dec: -1deg27'15'', has an additional advantage of being accessible from both hemispheres. We propose a figure of merit for quantifying real-world adaptive optics performance, and use this to analyze the performance of multi-conjugate adaptive optics in these fields. We also compare our results to those that would be obtained in existing deep fields. In some cases adaptive optics observations undertaken in the fields given in this paper would be orders of magnitude more efficient than equivalent observations undertaken in existing deep fields.
Publication type: Journal article
Research centre: Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies. Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing
Source: Publications of the Astronomical Society the Pacific, Vol. 123, no. 901 (Mar 2011), pp. 348-365
Publication year: 2011
FOR Code(s): 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences
Keyword(s): Astrophysical data; Astronomical instrumentation; Astronomical techniques; Galaxies
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISSN: 0004-6280
Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/658931
Peer reviewed