Keck Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics: Science Verification Results

In this paper we describe the operational strategy and performance of the Keck Observatory laser guidestar adaptive optics system, and showcase some early science verification images and results. Being the first laser guidestar system on an 8–10 m class telescope, the Keck laser guidestar adaptive optics system serves as a testbed for observing techniques and control algorithms. We highlight the techniques used for controlling the telescope focus and wavefront sensor reference centroids, and a wavefront reconstructor optimized for use with an elongated guidestar. We also present the current error budget and performance of the system on tip-tilt stars to magnitude R=17. The capability of the system to perform astronomical observations is finally demonstrated through multi-wavelength imaging of the Egg proto-planetary nebula (CRL 2688).