Adaptive optics is a method of correcting the shape of the telescope lens reflective surface using a viriaty of rods that apply pressure to the mirror back surface. Each rod has its own mechanical actuator and can vary the amount of pressure applied to a localized area of the mirror, thus correcting its shape. Adaptive optics is often used to smooth out the negative effects of thermal fluctuations in the Earth’s atmosphere on the images quality of celestial objects.
In order to program the variation of rod pressure force, it is necessary to continuously obtain information about the current conditions of electromagnetic radiation propagation from the investigated celestial object. This is done by analyzing the wavefront distortion that travels through the atmosphere on its way from the radiation source to the telescope.
The reference source of radiation is often a star that is in the telescope’s field of view near the celestial object being observed. Adaptive optics is also used to correct the shape of the main mirrors of telescopes or lasers that are designed to be launched into outer space. Mirrors launched into space can change their shape due to the lack of gravity and the temperature conditions in outer space, and adaptive optics helps to correct these deformations.
