Francois Rigaut

Prof Francois Rigaut is the Adaptive Optics Principal Scientist and MAVIS Principal Investigator at the Australian National University's Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics. With a PhD from University of Paris 7 (1992) on the pioneering COME-ON Adaptive Optics (AO) system, he has led AO developments across institutions like ESO, Gemini Observatory, and CFHT.

• Current Affiliation: Australian National University (since 2012)
• Academic Rank: Researcher
• Research Focus: Adaptive Optics, space debris tracking, astronomical instrumentation, and wavefront sensor innovations

Research Interests: His work spans AO theory (e.g., Fourier modeling, Tip-Tilt indetermination), practical implementations (GeMS, PUEO), and emerging applications in health sciences. He is advancing laser tomography AO for the Giant Magellanic Telescope and developing AO for laser beam conditioning in space debris mitigation.

Recent Projects: Lead projects include MAVIS (VLT instrument), ESO GHOST Real-Time Computer, and AO systems for space debris tracking. Collaborations span institutions like Keck Observatory, ESO, and Gemini, with a focus on next-generation AO for large telescopes.

Contributions: Rigaut pioneered Ground Layer AO and quantified Shack-Hartmann sensor noise. His fingerprint highlights expertise in Adaptive Optics (100%), Spectrographs (25%), and Wavefront Sensors (25%).

Contact: Email francois.rigaut@anu.edu.au