Related papers: Towards understanding interactions between the AO …

We present the details of predicting atmospheric turbulence by mining Zernike moment data obtained from simulations as well as experiments. Temporally correlated optical wave-fronts were simulated such that they followed Kolmogorov phase…

The next generation of Extremely Large Telescope (24 to 39m diameter) will suffer from the so-called "pupil fragmentation" problem. Due to their pupil shape complexity (segmentation, large spiders ...), some differential pistons may appear…

The sensitivity of the the pyramid wavefront sensor (PyWFS) has made it a popular choice for astronomical adaptive optics (AAO) systems, and it is at its most sensitive when it is used without modulation of the input beam. In non-modulated…

The Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) is an integral field spectrograph on the Very Large Telescope Unit Telescope 4, capable of laser guide star assisted and tomographic adaptive optics using the GALACSI module. Its observing…

An Adaptive secondary mirror (ASM) allows for the integration of adaptive optics (AO) into the telescope itself. Adaptive secondary mirrors, based on hybrid variable reluctance (HVR) actuator technology, developed by TNO, provide a…

This paper deals with the theoretical principle and optical design of a phase-shifting telescope-interferometer. What is called a "Telescope-Interferometer" (T-I) is indeed a novel, recently proposed Wavefront Error (WFE) sensing technique,…

The nonlinear curvature wavefront sensor (nlCWFS) has been shown to be a promising alternative to existing wavefront sensor designs. Theoretical studies indicate that the inherent sensitivity of this device could offer up to a factor of 10…

Wavefront aberrations can reflect the imaging quality of high-performance optical systems better than geometric aberrations. Although laser interferometers have emerged as the main tool for measurement of transmitted wavefronts, their…

Stellar coronagraph performance is highly sensitive to optical aberrations. In order to effectively suppress starlight for exoplanet imaging applications, low-order wavefront aberrations entering a coronagraph such as tip-tilt, defocus and…

Free-space optical communication (FSOC) systems offer high-bandwidth and secure communication with minimal capital costs. Adaptive optics (AO) are typically added to these systems to decrease atmospheric channel losses; however, the…

Ground-based direct imaging of exoplanets at high contrast requires precise correction of atmospheric turbulence using adaptive optics (AO). The planet-to-star contrast ratio at small angular separations from the host star is often limited…

The main objective of the present project is to explore the viability of an adaptive optics control system based exclusively on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), making strong use of their parallel processing capability. In an…

Shack Hartmann wavefront sensor is a two dimensional array of lenslets which is used to detect the incoming phase distorted wavefront through local tilt measurements made by recording the spot pattern near the focal plane. Wavefront…

The contrast performance of current eXtreme Adaptive Optics (XAO) systems can be improved by adding a second AO correction stage featuring its own wavefront sensor, deformable mirror, and real-time controller. We develop a dynamical model…

In a few years, the second generation instruments of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) will routinely provide observations with 4 to 6 telescopes simultaneously. To reach their ultimate performance, they will need a fringe…

The ASTrometric and phase-Referenced Astronomy (ASTRA) project will provide phase referencing and astrometric observations at the Keck Interferometer, leading to enhanced sensitivity and the ability to monitor orbits at an accuracy level of…

Differential Optical Transfer Function (dOTF) is an image-based, non-iterative wavefront sensing method that uses two star images with a single small change in the pupil. We describe two possible methods for introducing the required pupil…

Future high-contrast imagers on ground-based extremely large telescopes will have to deal with the segmentation of the primary mirrors. Residual phase errors coming from the phase steps at the edges of the segments will have to be minimized…

The Santa Cruz Extreme AO Lab (SEAL) is a new visible-wavelength testbed designed to advance the state of the art in wavefront control for high contrast imaging on large, segmented, ground-based telescopes. SEAL provides multiple options…

The Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer comprises of a series of upgrades to the Keck II adaptive optics system and instrument suite to improve the direct imaging and high resolution spectroscopy capabilities of the facility instruments…