Adaptive Optics

This volume is a compilation of research and tutorials from a variety of international authors with expertise in theory, engineering, and technology. The book includes discussion of retinal imaging, solar astronomy, wavefront-sensorless adaptive optics systems, liquid crystal wavefront correctors, membrane deformable mirrors, digital adaptive optics, optical vortices, and coupled anisoplanatism.

This book brings together 11 original chapters on topics related to adaptive optics, written by an international group of authors. Topics include atmospheric turbulence characterization, astronomy with large telescopes, image post-processing, high power laser distortion compensation, adaptive optics and the human eye, wavefront sensors, and deformable mirrors.

Adaptive optics is the most revolutionary breakthrough in astronomy since Galileo pointed his telescope skyward four hundred years ago. It is critical technology that will enable astronomers to answer challenging questions about the universe.