Imaging at the diffraction limit of the VLT is a crucial aspect of many astrophysical programs. While this capability is currently provided by NACO with its unique infrared wavefront sensor, the roadmap for future instrumentation does not include a diffraction limited imager. Some of NACO’s capabilities will be taken over by HAWK-I (delivering improved seeing via GLAO), SPHERE/IRDIS (optimized for high strehl on bright optical sources), and also by JWST. However, a multitude of applications—specifically, long term monitoring projects to track variability and proper motions—will not be feasible with these instruments. Science cases include obscured star forming regions, high velocity stars, the Galactic Center, and active galactic nuclei.
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Ott, T., Davies, R., Eisenhauer, F., Genzel, R., Hofmann, R., Gillessen, S. (2009). The Need for a General Purpose Diffraction Limited Imager at the VLT. In: Moorwood, A. (eds) Science with the VLT in the ELT Era. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9190-2_86
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