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Imaka is a ground layer adaptive optics (GLAO) demonstrator on the University of Hawaii 2.2m telescope with a 24 × 18 field-of-view, nearly an order of magnitude larger than previous AO instruments. In 15 nights of observing with natural guide star asterisms ∼ 16 in diameter, we measure median AO-off and AO-on empirical full-widths at half-maximum (FWHM) of 0. 95 and 0. 64 in R-band, 0. 81 and 0. 48 in I-band, and 0. 76 and 0. 44 at 1 micron. This factor of 1.5-1.7 reduction in the size of the point spread function (PSF) results from correcting both the atmosphere and telescope tracking errors. The AO-on PSF is uniform out to field positions ∼ 5 off-axis, with a typical standard deviation in the FWHM of 0. 018. Images exhibit variation in FWMM by 4.5% across the field, which has been applied as a correction to the aforementioned quantities. The AO-on PSF is also 10× more stable in time compared to the AO-off PSF. In comparing the delivered image quality to proxy measurements, we find that in both AO-off and AO-on data, delivered image quality is correlated with 'imaka's telemetry, with R-band correlation coefficients of 0.68 and 0.70, respectively. At the same wavelength, the data are correlated to DIMM and MASS seeing with coefficients of 0.45 and 0.55. Our results are an essential first step to implementing facility-class, wide-field GLAO on Maunakea telescopes, enabling new opportunities to study extended astronomical sources, such as deep galaxy fields, nearby galaxies or star clusters, at high angular resolution.

An Adaptive secondary mirror (ASM) allows for the integration of adaptive optics (AO) into the telescope itself. Adaptive secondary mirrors, based on hybrid variable reluctance (HVR) actuator technology, developed by TNO, provide a promising path to telescope-integrated AO. HVR actuators have the advantage of allowing mirrors that are stiffer, more power efficient, and potentially less complex than similar, voice-coil based ASM's. We are exploring the application of this technology via a laboratory testbed that will validate the technical approach. In parallel, we are developing conceptual designs for ASMs at several telescopes including the Automated Planet Finder Telescope (APF) and for Keck Observatory. An ASM for APF has the potential to double the light through the slit for radial velocity measurements, and dramatically improved the image stability. An ASM for WMKO enables ground layer AO correction and lower background infrared AO observations, and provides for more flexible deployment of instruments via the ability to adjust the location of the Cassegrain focus.

We are developing a new adaptive secondary mirror (ASM) for the University of Hawaii 2.2-meter telescope based on a novel and very efficient hybrid variable reluctance actuator developed by TNO. The actuator technology has broad implications on the ASM design and results in an ASM with a thicker facesheet, lower power dissipation, and simple controls. We report here preparations and plans for lab testing as well as on-sky demonstration of the ASM. The lab calibrations of the ASM influence functions will use a phase measuring deflectometry setup. The on-sky tests will include the evaluation of the use of the ASM for narrow field AO observations at visible through near infrared wavelengths, for very wide fields of view ground-layer adaptive optics, and for seeing limited non-adaptive optics observations.

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