Dr. Francois Rigaut

Biography

François Rigaut obtained a PhD from the University of Paris 7 in 1992. He is a leading figure in the field of Adaptive Optics (AO) systems in astronomy, noted for his involvement with the COME-ON project, which developed adaptive optics technology for the European Southern Observatory's La Silla observatory. Rigaut has contributed significantly to the technological and theoretical advancements within Adaptive Optics, promoting its application at various institutes, including the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and the European Southern Observatory. His work includes key instruments such as PUEO, NAOS, and Altair, and he was instrumental in the development of the Gemini multi-conjugate adaptive optics system (GeMS) and the Laser Guide Star Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics system. Since January 2012, he has been working at the Australian National University (ANU) within the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, where he leads AO-related activities. His current projects include pioneering research in Laser Tomography and the development of an AO prototype for the Giant Magellanic Telescope, focusing on laser beam conditioning used for space debris tracking and de-orbiting efforts.

Research Interests

Experience