Open AccessA low cost adaptive optics system using a membrane mirror
Author(s) -
Carl Paterson,
Ian Munro,
J. C. Dainty
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.6.000175
Subject(s) - deformable mirror , adaptive optics , wavefront , optics , wavefront sensor , actuator , spatial light modulator , generator (circuit theory) , physics , frame rate , computer science , power (physics) , artificial intelligence , quantum mechanics
A low cost adaptive optics system constructed almost entirely of commercially available components is presented. The system uses a 37 actuator membrane mirror and operates at frame rates up to 800Hz using a single processor. Numerical modelling of the membrane mirror is used to optimize parameters of the system. The dynamic performance of the system is investigated in detail using a diffractive wavefront generator based on a ferroelectric spatial light modulator. This is used to produce wavefronts with time-varying aberrations. The ability of the system to correct for Kolmogorov turbulence with different strengths and effective wind speeds is measured experimentally using the wavefront generator.