Deformable mirrorDeformable mirrors (DM) are mirrors whose surface can be deformed, in order to achieve wavefront control and correction of optical aberrations. Deformable mirrors are used in combination with wavefront sensors and real-time control systems in adaptive optics. In 2006 they found a new use in femtosecond pulse shaping. The shape of a DM can be controlled with a speed that is appropriate for compensation of dynamic aberrations present in the optical system.
Active opticsActive optics is a technology used with reflecting telescopes developed in the 1980s, which actively shapes a telescope's mirrors to prevent deformation due to external influences such as wind, temperature, and mechanical stress. Without active optics, the construction of 8 metre class telescopes is not possible, nor would telescopes with segmented mirrors be feasible.
WavefrontIn physics, the wavefront of a time-varying wavefield is the set (locus) of all points having the same phase. The term is generally meaningful only for fields that, at each point, vary sinusoidally in time with a single temporal frequency (otherwise the phase is not well defined). Wavefronts usually move with time.
Optical aberrationDeviation from perfect paraxial optical behavior 1: Imaging by a lens with chromatic aberration. 2: A lens with less chromatic aberration In optics, aberration is a property of optical systems, such as lenses and mirrors, that causes the image created by the optical system to not be a faithful reproduction of the object being observed.
Astronomical seeingIn astronomy, seeing is the degradation of the image of an astronomical object due to turbulence in the atmosphere of Earth that may become visible as blurring, twinkling or variable distortion. The origin of this effect is rapidly changing variations of the optical refractive index along the light path from the object to the detector.
TelescopeA telescope is a device used to observe distant objects by their emission, absorption, or reflection of electromagnetic radiation. Originally, it was an optical instrument using lenses, curved mirrors, or a combination of both to observe distant objects – an optical telescope. Nowadays, the word "telescope" is defined as a wide range of instruments capable of detecting different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and in some cases other types of detectors.
RetinaPart of the eyeThe retina (from Latin rete 'net'; pl. retinae or retinas) is the innermost, light-sensitive layer of tissue of the eye. The optics of the eye create a focused two-dimensional image of the visual world on the retina, which then processes that image within the retina and sends nerve impulses along the optic nerve to the visual cortex to create visual perception.
Speckle imagingSpeckle imaging comprises a range of high-resolution astronomical imaging techniques based on the analysis of large numbers of short exposures that freeze the variation of atmospheric turbulence. They can be divided into the shift-and-add (image stacking) method and the speckle interferometry methods. These techniques can dramatically increase the resolution of ground-based telescopes, but are limited to bright targets.
AstronomyAstronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and the phenomena that occur in the cosmos. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry to explain their origin and their overall evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, meteoroids, asteroids, and comets. Relevant phenomena include supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, quasars, blazars, pulsars, and cosmic microwave background radiation.
Liquid crystalState of matter with properties of both conventional liquids and crystalsSchlieren texture of liquid crystal nematic phaseLiquid crystal (LC) is a state of matter whose properties are between those of conventional liquids and those of solid crystals. There are many types of LC phases, which can be classified by the molecular shape of their subunits, the arrangement and symmetry of the phase, as well as the method by which the liquid crystalline phase is accessed.
OphthalmoscopyOphthalmoscopy (from Ancient Greek ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós), meaning "eye", and σκοπέω (skopéō), meaning "to look"), also called funduscopy, is a test that allows a health professional to see inside the fundus of the eye and other structures using an ophthalmoscope (or funduscope). It is done as part of an eye examination and may be done as part of a routine physical examination.Optical manufacturing and testingOptical manufacturing and testing is the process of manufacturing and testing optical components. It spans a wide range of manufacturing procedures and optical test configurations. The manufacture of a conventional spherical lens typically begins with the generation of the optic's rough shape by grinding a glass blank. This can be done, for example, with ring tools. Next, the lens surface is polished to its final form.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.