Lines of instrumentation: Adaptive Optics

Adaptive Optics

This line includes instrumental projects designed to measure and correct the disturbances introduced by the atmosphere on the light received by the scientific instruments. We develop highly specialized devices to measure and characterize the atmospheric turbulence and also specific instruments that, placed in the telescope, are able to compensate the effects of the atmosphere and deliver a corrected beam to the scientific instrument.

  • Capability
    National and international relations in the field of large scientific facilities with other public and private entities
    One of the missions of the IAC is to point out the value of the international nature of the center, by improving the relationships that are already underway...
  • News
    New data obtained about the biggest and one of the most complete Einstein rings
    In December 2020 a team from the European Space Agency (ESA) published an image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) of GAL-CLUS-022058s, the biggest and...
  • News
    NORBERT HUBIN: “The laser star guide system with Adaptive Optics which allow us to have much better sky coverage and better telescope performance”
    “Although giant telescopes are under construction, astronomical images with good resolution cannot be obtained unless they use Adaptive Optics”, warns Norbert...
  • Project
    Óptica Adaptativa con FPGAs
    A project for the technological demonstration of the use of FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) in the field of adaptive optics systems.
  • Gallery
    Placement of the four legs of the test cryostat in the AIV room of the IAC
    Placement of the four legs of the test cryostat in the AIV room of the IAC. Credit: Inés Bonet (IAC)
  • Capability
    Processing of confidentiality and industrial property agreements
    The IAC promotes scientific and technological cooperations through agreements for the exchange of confidential information, including ideas for the exploitation...
  • Stay
    PROF. DR. NOELIA MARTÍNEZ (Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, ANU, Australia)
    Dr. Noelia Martínez did her PhD thesis as a resident at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) with the topic "Pioneering use of an Adaptive Optics...
  • Capability
    R&D&I project management
    The development of large and complex scientific instruments has led the IAC to specialize in project management techniques, a discipline to coordinate the human...
  • News
    The IAC celebrates its Day of Science
    Last Tuesday, in the Tenerife Space for the Arts (TEA) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the IAC celebrated the XI edition of the Day of Our Science, an annual meting...