UCLA Lake Arrowhead Lodge

November 14-18 2024

Register here by October 1st, 2024!

The Center for Adaptive Optics Fall Science Retreat provides a forum for researchers in the adaptive optics field to share current results and plan future collaborations. It will be held at the UCLA Lake Arrowhead Conference Center, November 14-18 2024. 

The CfAO Fall Retreat this year will center around five workshops with overlapping themes in adaptive optics. This is an excellent opportunity for researchers to exchange ideas and make progress in developing the technology of AO for both astronomy and vision science applications.

Venue Information | Transportation Information


2024 Session Descriptions

Astrophotonics
This workshop will focus on new opportunities for AO and AO-fed science instrumentation based on photonic technologies. Topics will include photonic technologies for phase and amplitude modulation, wavefront sensing, interferometry, spectral dispersion, light detection, and the injection of astronomical light into photonic devices.

VisAO
Adaptive optics at shorter wavelengths is scientifically compelling and technically challenging.  This workshop will focus on aspects of implementing AO at visible wavelengths, including modeling of performance, technologies needed to make progress, and design concepts for future visAO systems.

Medical & Biological Applications of AO
Adaptive optics is an important tool for high resolution imaging of the retina of the eye, and increasingly in microscopy. This first part of this workshop will focus on future needs for wavefront control (e.g. using spatial light modulators) and opportunities for driving down the cost of wavefront sensors in collaboration with the astronomical AO community. The second part of this workshop will discuss the latest technology developments and applications of AO for microscopy, superresolution imaging, vision science, and ophthalmology.

Real-Time Control
This workshop will focus on opportunities for adopting common RTC architectures across different testbeds and observatories. In recent years, architectures based on shared-memories (e.g. CACAO, COSMIC, and DAO) have become increasingly common as well as modular software (e.g. HEART) that is designed to support a variety of RTCs. We will discuss the challenges, requirements, and implementation strategies associated with deploying common RTC software across multiple AO systems.

Adaptive Secondary Mirrors
This workshop is centered on new technologies for adaptive secondary mirrors (ASMs). This year, the workshop will focus on testbeds for ASM technology development and methods for ASM optical testing. We will be sharing new developments, specific lab testing/verification of systems/components, and the status of new ASM projects. There will be focused discussions about key results, calibrations for coming systems, and new approaches, including the underlying requirements, for testing.


Block Schedule


Registration Costs

Package 4-night Total 3-night Total
Full Package in Shared Room
Meeting, all meals, and double room lodging
$1800
Guest: Bring a guest (non-participating in the
meeting). Includes meals and lodging in shared room
$1200 (or $650 if the guest shares one room with the participant)
Full-Day Commuter: Meeting and all meals included** $1020

** The complete full-day commuter package includes registration fees and 3 meals per day for the duration of the program.

Attention International Travelers: Attendees must arrange for medical insurance to cover the period of the event. Since emergency-room visits in the US can cost thousands of dollars for those who are uninsured, the insurance is well worthwhile. Traveler’s medical insurance can be obtained online or through a trusted travel agent.


Scientific Organizing Committee

Rebecca Jensen-Clem, UC Santa Cruz, rjensenc@ucsc.edu

Phil Hinz, University of California Observatories, phinz@ucsc.edu

Jessica Lu,
UC Berkeley,
jlu.astro@berkeley.edu

Mark Chun, Univ. of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy,
mchun@ifa.hawaii.edu

Michael Fitzgerald,
UCLA,
mpfitz@ucla.edu

Nicole Putnam, SUNY College of Optometry, nputnam@sunyopt.edu

Robert Zawadzki, UC Davis,
rjzawadzki@ucdavis.edu

Steph Sallum, UC Irvine, ssallum@uci.edu

Julian Christou, NOIR Lab, Julian.Christou@noirlab.edu

Max Millar-Blanchaer, UC Santa Barbara, maxmb@ucsb.edu

Quinn Konopacky, UC San Diego, qkonopacky@ucsd.edu


University of California Observatories

Please contact Program Lead Graseilah Coolidge  gcoolidge@ucolick.org Tel: ‭(831) 316-3019‬ if you have any special needs regarding rooming and registration. For more information about the Resort Amenities, location and directions, please visit the venue’s website.