Adaptive Optics for Astronomical Telescopes

This book by one of the leaders in adaptive optics covers the fundamental theory and then describes in detail how this technology can be applied to large ground-based telescopes to compensate for the effects of atmospheric turbulence. It includes information on basic adaptive optics components and technology, and has chapters devoted to atmospheric turbulence, optical image structure, laser beacons, and overall system design. The chapter on system design is particularly detailed and includes performance estimation and optimization. Combining a clear discussion of physical principles with numerous real-world examples, this book will be a valuable resource for all graduate students and researchers in astronomy and optics.

List of Symbols

ix

1 The Short, Eventful History of Adaptive Optics

3

(23)

1.1 Introduction

3

(1)

1.2 Astronomy with the Unaided Eye

4

(4)

1.3 Telescopes and Atmospheric Turbulence

8

(2)

1.4 The Emergence of Astrophysics

10

(1)

1.5 The Importance of Optical Wavefront Measurements

11

(1)

1.6 Early Ideas on Wavefront Compensation

12

(3)

1.7 The Development of Laser Beam Control Systems

15

(1)

1.8 First Successes with Image Compensation

16

(4)

1.9 The Evolution of Large Adaptive Optics Systems

20

(4)

1.10 The Next Generation of Adaptive Optics

24

(2)

2 Adaptive Optics in Astronomy

26

(51)

2.1 Introduction

26

(1)

2.2 Observing Through the Atmosphere

27

(5)

2.3 The Role of Adaptive Optics

32

(8)

2.4 Performance Gain with Adaptive Optics

40

(7)

2.5 Optical Considerations

47

(8)

2.6 Implementation of Adaptive Optics

55

(6)

2.7 Wavefront Sensing

61

(6)

2.8 Wavefront Correction

67

(3)

2.9 Laser Beacons

70

(2)

2.10 Error Sources in Adaptive Optics

72

(1)

2.11 Using Adaptive Optics

73

(4)

3 Optical Effects of Atmospheric Turbulence

77

(27)

3.1 Introduction

77

(1)

3.2 The Mechanics of Turbulence

78

(4)

3.3 Modeling Earth's Atmosphere

82

(6)

3.4 Optical Effects of Turbulence

88

(7)

3.5 Modal Representation and Correction of Turbulence

95

(3)

3.6 Transverse Filtering Techniques

98

(3)

3.7 Anisoplanatism

101

(3)

4 Optical Image Structure

104

(31)

4.1 Introduction

104

(2)

4.2 Optical Image Formation

106

(6)

4.3 Wavefront Distortion

112

(3)

4.4 Turbulence-Degraded Images

115

(6)

4.5 Image Motion

121

(1)

4.6 Image Evaluation

122

(3)

4.7 Quantum Noise Effects

125

(6)

4.8 Performance Criteria

131

(4)

5 Optical Wavefront Sensors

135

(41)

5.1 Sensors for Astronomical Adaptive Optics

135

(3)

5.2 Wavefront Sensing Techniques

138

(5)

5.3 Shack-Hartmann Sensor

143

(11)

5.4 Shearing Interferometers

154

(11)

5.5 Curvature Sensing

165

(3)

5.6 Wavefront Sensing with Extended Sources

168

(2)

5.7 Photon Detectors for Wavefront Sensing

170

(4)

5.8 Neural Networks

174

(2)

6 Wavefront Correctors

176

(40)

6.1 Introduction

176

(1)

6.2 Wavefront Correctors for Astronomy

177

(2)

6.3 Actuators

179

(7)

6.4 Discrete-Actuator Deformable Mirrors

186

(6)

6.5 Segmented Mirrors

192

(5)

6.6 Bimorph Mirrors

197

(4)

6.7 Adaptive Secondary Mirrors

201

(3)

6.8 Membrane Mirrors

204

(2)

6.9 Refractive Wavefront Correctors

206

(4)

6.10 Tracking Mirrors

210

(2)

6.11 Dirigible Optics

212

(4)

7 Laser Beacons

216

(50)

7.1 Introduction

216

(5)

7.2 Physical Principles of Laser Scattering

221

(9)

7.3 Wavefront Measurement with Atmospheric Beacons

230

(18)

7.4 Image Stabilization

248

(8)

7.5 Rayleigh Beacon Lasers

256

(1)

7.6 Sodium Beacon Lasers

257

(6)

7.7 Sodium Beacon Measurements

263

(1)

7.8 Optical Configurations for Beam Sharing

264

(1)

7.9 Laser Safety Considerations

265

(1)

8 Wavefront Reconstruction and Control Systems

266

(42)

8.1 Introduction

266

(5)

8.2 Principles of Wavefront Reconstruction

271

(9)

8.3 Practical Reconstructors

280

(7)

8.4 Wavefront Prediction

287

(2)

8.5 Adaptive Optics Control Systems

289

(14)

8.6 Optimal Wavefront Correction

303

(5)

9 Adaptive Optics Performance Analysis and Optimization

308

(69)

9.1 Introduction

308

(6)

9.2 Atmospheric Turbulence Summary

314

(4)

9.3 External Sources of Wavefront Error

318

(10)

9.4 Instrumental Error Sources

328

(17)

9.5 Performance of Adaptive Optics Systems Using Natural Stars

345

(12)

9.6 Performance of Laser Beacon Systems

357

(12)

9.7 Adaptive Parameter Control

369

(5)

9.8 Multiconjugate Compensation

374

(3)

10 Astronomical Adaptive Optics Programs

377

(18)

10.1 Introduction

377

(1)

10.2 Adaptive Optics Programs

378

(1)

10.3 Program Descriptions

379

(14)

10.4 Current Trends

393

(1)

10.5 Future Prospects

394

(1)

Appendix A Estimating the Position of an Image

395

(9)

A.1 Introduction

395

(1)

A.2 General Position Estimator

395

(1)

A.3 Position Sensing with Discrete Detector Arrays

396

(1)

A.4 Optimum Weighting Functions

397

(1)

A.5 Performance of Hartmann Sensors

397

(7)

Appendix B Active Control for Long-Baseline Interferometers

404

(9)

B.1 Introduction

404

(1)

B.2 System Model

404

(5)

B.3 Active Control System

409

(3)

B.4 Summary

412

(1)

Bibliography

413

(18)

Index

431

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Adaptive Optics for Astronomical Telescopes

Summary

Table of Contents

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Adaptive Optics for Astronomical Telescopes

Summary

Table of Contents

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