Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics for Astronomy

Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics for Astronomy PDF Author: N. Ageorges
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401596247
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 362

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Book Description
Adaptive optics allows the theoretical limit of angular resolution to be achieved from a large telescope, despite the presence of turbulence. Thus an eight meter class telescope, such as one of the four in the Very Large Telescope operated by ESO in Chile, will in future be routinely capable of an angular resolution of almost 0.01 arcsec, compared tot he present resolution of about 0.5 arcsec for conventional imaging in good condition. All the world's major telescopes either have adaptive optics or are in the process of building AO systems. It turns out that a reasonable fraction of the sky can be observed using adaptive optics, with moderately good imaging quality, provided imaging in done in the near IR. To move out of the near IR, with its relatively poor angular resolution, astronomers need a laser guide star. There is a layer of Na atoms at approximately 90 km altitude that can be excited by a laser to produce such a source, or Rayleigh scattering can be employed lower in the atmosphere. But the production and use of laser guide stars is not trivial, and the key issues determining their successful implementation are discussed here, including the physics of the Na atom, the cone effect, tilt determination, sky coverage, and numerous potential astronomical applications.

Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics for Astronomy

Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics for Astronomy PDF Author: N. Ageorges
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401596247
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 362

Get Book Here

Book Description
Adaptive optics allows the theoretical limit of angular resolution to be achieved from a large telescope, despite the presence of turbulence. Thus an eight meter class telescope, such as one of the four in the Very Large Telescope operated by ESO in Chile, will in future be routinely capable of an angular resolution of almost 0.01 arcsec, compared tot he present resolution of about 0.5 arcsec for conventional imaging in good condition. All the world's major telescopes either have adaptive optics or are in the process of building AO systems. It turns out that a reasonable fraction of the sky can be observed using adaptive optics, with moderately good imaging quality, provided imaging in done in the near IR. To move out of the near IR, with its relatively poor angular resolution, astronomers need a laser guide star. There is a layer of Na atoms at approximately 90 km altitude that can be excited by a laser to produce such a source, or Rayleigh scattering can be employed lower in the atmosphere. But the production and use of laser guide stars is not trivial, and the key issues determining their successful implementation are discussed here, including the physics of the Na atom, the cone effect, tilt determination, sky coverage, and numerous potential astronomical applications.

Introduction to Adaptive Optics

Introduction to Adaptive Optics PDF Author: Robert K. Tyson
Publisher: SPIE Press
ISBN: 9780819435118
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
Adaptive optics systems and components have achieved a level of sophistication and simplicity that goes beyond traditional applications in astronomy and the military and into developments in medicine, manufacturing, and communications. This book was written for those interested in the multidisciplinary technology and those who need a broad-brush explanation without wading through thousands of journal articles. It follows the structure of a one-day tutorial taught by the author, including humor and sidebars of historical material.

Principles of Adaptive Optics

Principles of Adaptive Optics PDF Author: Robert K. Tyson
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000531368
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 606

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Book Description
Principles of Adaptive Optics describes the foundations, principles, and applications of adaptive optics (AO) and its enabling technologies. This leading textbook addresses the fundamentals of AO at the core of astronomy, high-energy lasers, biomedical imaging, and optical communications. Key Features: Numerous examples to explain and support the underlying principles Hundreds of new references to support the topics that are addressed End-of-chapter questions and exercises A complete system design example threaded through each chapter as new material is introduced

Adaptive Optics in Astronomy

Adaptive Optics in Astronomy PDF Author: François Roddier
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 052155375X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 421

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Book Description
Adaptive optics is set to revolutionise the future of astronomy; this is the first book on the subject and is set to become the standard reference.

Principles of Adaptive Optics

Principles of Adaptive Optics PDF Author: Robert K. Tyson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Book Description
Adaptive optics has progressed from the laboratory and field experiments into surveillance systems, optical testing, medical research, and astronomical observatories around the world. A student, engineer, or scientist needs a single volume that describes all the basic principles, analytical tools, and instrumentation hardware that becomes an adaptive optics system. With hundreds of references, this book provides a road map to the design and performance analysis of adaptive optics wavefront sensors, controls, correcting optics and their integral operation. From the interested person just trying to find the buzzwords of adaptive optics to the experienced engineer looking for the equations that describe atmospheric compensation, Principles of Adaptive Optics will meet the goal.

Topics in Adaptive Optics

Topics in Adaptive Optics PDF Author: Robert Tyson
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 9533079495
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 270

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Book Description
Advances in adaptive optics technology and applications move forward at a rapid pace. The basic idea of wavefront compensation in real-time has been around since the mid 1970s. The first widely used application of adaptive optics was for compensating atmospheric turbulence effects in astronomical imaging and laser beam propagation. While some topics have been researched and reported for years, even decades, new applications and advances in the supporting technologies occur almost daily. This book brings together 11 original chapters related to adaptive optics, written by an international group of invited 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 Progress

Adaptive Optics Progress PDF Author: Lefteris Tyler
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781681172088
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Adaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effect of wave front distortions: it aims at correcting the deformations of an incoming wave front by deforming a mirror in order to compensate for the distortion. It is used in astronomical telescopes and laser communication systems to remove the effects of atmospheric distortion, in microscopy, optical fabrication and in retinal imaging systems to reduce optical aberrations. Adaptive optics works by measuring the distortions in a wave front and compensating for them with a device that corrects those errors such as a deformable mirror or a liquid crystal array. Although active optics can ensure that a telescope's main mirror always retains a perfect shape, the turbulence of the Earth's atmosphere distorts images obtained at even the best sites in the world for astronomy. Astronomers have turned to a method called adaptive optics. Sophisticated, deformable mirrors controlled by computers can correct in real-time for the distortion caused by the turbulence of the Earth's atmosphere, making the images obtained almost as sharp as those taken in space. Adaptive optics allows the corrected optical system to observe finer details of much fainter astronomical objects than is otherwise possible from the ground. Active and adaptive optics technology has emerged from the laboratory and is being applied to improve the performance of optical imaging and laser systems. In the last few years, development of both systems and components has accelerated. Many new concepts and devices have appeared, among which are high-performance deformable mirrors, new types of wave front sensors, and more sophisticated wave front processing algorithms. Equally important, a better understanding of the system design aspects of adaptive optics has been reached, particularly of the need for optimizing each system according to its application. Current developments in adaptive optics for ground-based astronomy include the use of IR wavelengths, partial wave front compensation using natural guide stars, and the use of laser guide stars to allow all-sky coverage with full compensation at visible wavelengths. The book entitled Adaptive Optics Progress offers the applications of adaptive optics throughout the fields of communication as well as its original usages in astronomy and beam propagation.

Adaptive Optics for Large Telescopes

Adaptive Optics for Large Telescopes PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 300

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Book Description


Adaptive Optics Engineering Handbook

Adaptive Optics Engineering Handbook PDF Author: Robert Tyson
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 9780203908686
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 368

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Book Description
This handbook supplies analytical tools for the design and development of adaptive optics systems to enhance their ability to adjust for atmospheric turbulence, optical fabrication errors, thermally induced distortions, and laser device aberrations. It provides recommendations for selecting, testing and installing a wavefront compensation system.

Principles of Adaptive Optics

Principles of Adaptive Optics PDF Author: Robert Tyson
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1439808597
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 310

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Book Description
Since the publication of the second edition of Principles of Adaptive Optics, the developments and applications in this area have increased tremendously. Observatories are now producing outstanding science through adaptive optics technology; components, such as micromachined deformable mirrors and very low noise detectors, are revolutionizing the f