NAOS-CONICA first on sky results in a variety of observing modes

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Abstract
The Adaptive Optics NIR Instrument NAOS-CONICA has been commissioned at the VLT (UT4) between November 2001 and March 2002. After summarizing the observational capabilities of this multimode instrument in combination with the powerful AO-system, we will present first on sky results of the instrumental performance for several non-direct imaging modes: High spatial resolution slit-spectroscopy in the optical and thermal NIR region has been tested. For compact sources below 2 arcsec extension, Wollaston prism polarimetry is used. For larger objects the linear polarization pattern can be analyzed by wire grids down to the diffraction limit. Coronographic masks are applied to optimize imaging and polarimetric capabilities. The cryogenic Fabry-Perot Interferometer in combination with an 8m-telescope AO-system is shown to be a powerful tool for imaging spectroscopy (3D-scans).

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