MAORY real-time computer preliminary design

Abstract

MAORY is the Multi-conjugate Adaptive Optics module for the Extremely Large Telescope and it will be located on the Nasmyth platform of the telescope to feed scientific instruments. MAORY will re-image the telescope focal plane providing multi-conjugate adaptive optics correction of the wavefront distortion induced by the atmosphere. The system is based on six laser guide stars and three natural guide stars for sensing the wavefront distortion and three deformable mirrors for correcting it. We will show the current status of the preliminary design of the Real Time Computer in charge of carrying out all the calculations based on the measurements of the guide stars wavefront sensors. The hard real time (primary) loops are in charge of controlling the deformable mirrors and the lasers jitter compensation while the soft real- time (secondary) loops are in charge of updating the primary loops parameters as well as measuring or estimating the atmospheric parameters and the system performance. Telemetry data management/recording and calibration are the other tasks carried out by the real time computer.