Publication Date
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Elizabeth Beecher (Committee Member), Tamara Payne (Committee Member), Douglas Petkie (Committee Chair)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
Atmospheric Turbulence has long remained one of the great unsolved problems in physics. Laser guide stars were invented in order for telescopes to overcome atmospheric turbulence while used in combination with adaptive optics. This study focuses on the design and implementation phase of a Rayleigh laser guide star for the John Bryan State Park Observatory, owned and operated by the United States Air Force. Atmospheric simulations, as well as optical modelling of proposed equipment, were completed to optimize the design of this laser guide star. In addition, a novel method for the implementation of the guide star onto this very unique four axis telescope platform is presented.
Page Count
89
Department or Program
Department of Physics
Year Degree Awarded
2015
Copyright
Copyright 2015, all rights reserved. My ETD will be available under the "Fair Use" terms of copyright law.
ORCID ID
0000-0002-4422-217X
