Adaptive optics for array telescopes using piston-and-tilt wave-front sensing

P. Wizinowich, B. McLeod, M. Lloyd-Hart, J. R.P. Angel, D. Colucci, R. Dekany, D. McCarthy, D. Wittman, I. Scott Fleming

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

A near-infrared adaptive optics system operating at ≅50 Hz has been used to control phase errors adaptively between two mirrors of the Multiple Mirror Telescope by stabilizing the position of the interference fringe in the combined unresolved far-field image. The resultant integrated images have angular resolutions of better than 0.1 arcsec and fringe contrasts of > 0.6. Measurements of wave-front tilt have confirmed the wavelength independence of image motion. These results show that interferometric sensing of phase errors, when combined with a system for sensing the wave-front tilt of the individual telescopes, will provide a means of achieving a stable diffraction-limited focus with segmented telescopes or arrays of telescopes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6036-6046
Number of pages11
JournalApplied optics
Volume31
Issue number28
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1992

Keywords

  • Adaptive optics
  • Astronomy
  • Stellar interferometry
  • Telescopes
  • Wave-front sensing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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