Adaptive optics telemetry standard: Design and specification of a novel data exchange format

• Published in: Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) 2024-06, Vol.686, p.A7
• Main Authors: Gomes, Tiago, Correia, Carlos M., Bardou, Lisa, Cetre, Sylvain, Kolb, Johann, Kulcsár, Caroline, Leroux, François, Morris, Timothy, Morujão, Nuno, Neichel, Benoît, Beuzit, Jean-Luc, Garcia, Paulo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Sciences of the Universe
• ISSN: 0004-6361; 1432-0746; 1432-0756
• DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202348486

Context . The amount of adaptive optics (AO) telemetry generated by visible/near-infrared ground-based observatories is ever greater, leading to a growing need for a standardised data exchange format to support performance analysis, AO research, and development activities that involve large-scale telemetry mining, processing, and curation. Aims . This paper introduces the Adaptive Optics Telemetry (AOT) data exchange format as a standard for sharing AO telemetry from visible/infrared ground-based observatories. AOT is based on the flexible image transport system (FITS) and aims to provide unambiguous and consistent data access across various systems and configurations, including natural and single- or multiple-laser guide-star AO systems. Methods . We designed AOT with a focus on two key use cases: atmospheric turbulence parameter estimation and point-spread function reconstruction. We prototyped and tested the design using existing AO telemetry datasets from multiple systems: single conjugate with natural and laser guide stars, tomographic systems with multi-channel wavefront sensors, and single- and multi-wavefront correctors in systems featuring either a Shack-Hartmann or Pyramid as the main wavefront sensor. Results . The AOT file structure has been thoroughly defined, with specified data fields, descriptions, data types, units, and expected dimensions. To support this format, we have developed a Python package that enables the data conversion, reading, writing, and exploration of AOT files; it has been made publicly available and is compatible with a general-purpose Python package manager. We have demonstrated the flexibility of the AOT format by packaging data from five different instruments, installed on different telescopes.