RAYLEIGH BEACON ADAPTIVE OPTICS IMAGING OF ADS-9731 - MEASUREMENTS OF THE ISOPLANATIC FIELD-OF-VIEW

In this report we present Rayleigh beacon adaptive optics imaging of the quadruple star system ADS 9731. These observations were made at the Starfire Optical Range near Albuquerque, New Mexico, using a fully atmospherically compensated adaptive optics system. Data were obtained in wave bands centered on 0.85 mu m (I-band), 1.25 mu m (J-band), and 1.65 mu m (H-band). Measurements of the astrometry of the system are presented. These observations permitted measurements of the point-spread function variations across the field of view. We note that minimal, if any, anisoplanatism is seen at the J and H bands, but significant anisoplanatism is measured in the I band. The atmospheric behavior is commensurate with numerical models which predict a larger field of view when using a low-altitude Rayleigh beacon than when using a natural beacon or a sodium beacon.