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

In this report we present Rayleigh beacon adaptive optics imaging of t he quadruple star system ADS 9731. These observations were made at the Starfire Optical Range near Albuquerque, New Mexico, using a fully at mospherically compensated adaptive optics system. Data were obtained i n 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 pr esented. These observations permitted measurements of the point-spread function variations across the field of view. We note that minimal, i f any, anisoplanatism is seen at the J and H bands, but significant an isoplanatism is measured in the I band. The atmospheric behavior is co mmensurate with numerical models which predict a larger field of view when using a low-altitude Rayleigh beacon than when using a natural be acon or a sodium beacon.