The Gemini MCAO Infrastructure: Laser Service Enclosure and Support Structure Charles P. Cavedoni, PE Gemini Observatory, 670 North A‘ohoku Place, Hilo, HI, USA 96720-2700 ccavedoni@gemini.edu S. Bombino, M. Sheehan, S. Karewicz, S. Hardash, Gemini Observatory Northern Operations Center, 670 N. A‘ohoku Place, Hilo, HI 96720, USA Tel: +1 808 974 2500, Fax: +1 808 935 9235 G. Perez, P. Collins, C. d’Orgeville, M. Boccas. D.Maltes, G. Gausachs, R.Rogers Gemini Observatory Southern Operations Center, Colina el Pino s/n, La Serena, Chile Tel: (+56) 51 205 600, Fax: (+56) 51 205650 ABSTRACT The Laser Service Enclosure (LSE) is an environmentally controlled ISO 7 clean room designed to house, protect and provide environmental control for the Gemini South multi-conjugate adaptive optics laser system. The LSE is 8.0 meters long, 2.5 meters wide and 2.5 meters high with a mass of approximately 5,100 kg. The LSE shall reside on a new telescope Nasmyth platform named the Support Structure (SS). The SS is a three-dimensional beam and frame structure designed to support the LSE and laser system under all loading conditions. This paper will review the system requirements and describe the system hardware including optical, environmental, structural and operational issues as well as the anticipated impact the system will have on the current telescope performance. Keywords: laser service enclosure, laser housing, laser environment 1. BACKGROUND The Gemini MCAO project intends to use a 50 W, class IV solid-state laser at the Gemini South eight meter telescope (GS) to optically excite the mesospheric sodium layer to produce artificial beacons or “guide stars” for feedback to an adaptive optics system. [1] The laser system consists of two functional components–a laser bench enclosure (LBE) and a laser electronic enclosure (LEE). [2] The LBE houses the electro-opto-mechanical hardware required to generate and point the laser beam. The LEE houses the laser system control electronics. The LBE, including its vibration isolation table, is 3.65 meters wide, 1.3 meters high and 1.05 meters deep with a mass of approximately 1,425 kg. The LEE is 1.29 meters wide, 2.15 meters high and 1.43 meters deep with a mass of approximately 930 kg. We intend to place the LBE and the LEE on a new -X Nasmyth platform for beam projection along the elevation axis. From there, new beam transfer optics will receive, transfer and launch the constellation of five laser beams from the telescope top end behind the secondary mirror (M2). The requirement to locate the laser system on the elevation axis of an existing eight meter telescope, that has no Nasmyth platform, plus the inherent technical requirements of a solid state laser system intended to operate routinely at a scientific observatory, presents the team with a number of structural, mechanical, safety and operational challenges all intended to be met by the GS MCAO LSE and SS. Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes II, edited by Larry M. Stepp, Roberto Gilmozzi, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7012, 70122Y, (2008) · 0277-786X/08/$18 · doi: 10.1117/12.788926 Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7012 70122Y-1 2008 SPIE Digital Library -- Subscriber Archive Copy