White Paper: Adaptive Optics 101

Originally introduced in the 1950s as a concept for improving astronomical imaging by correcting atmospheric aberration, it took nearly two decades for adaptive optics (AO) technology to catch up with theory and starlight to hit the first AO system. Years later, major telescopes around the world are now equipped with this expensive imaging technology. While these AO enabled telescopes were being developed, technological advances of the last decade in CCD cameras, frame grabbers, and MEMS deformable mirrors have inspired innovative researchers to solve wavefront distortion problems in fields such as microscopy, retinal imaging, and laser communication. These early adopters were rewarded with scientific breakthroughs in their respective fields. Now, with proven applications and mature, affordable components, AO is poised for widespread use in a myriad of optical fields.