Adaptive-optics corrections available for the whole sky

Article Abstract:

Observations of three off-axis reference stars have been used to calculate the deformations of the wavefront of a central star. The deformations were compared with the real measured values, an approach found to decrease variations in the wavefront by around 92%. The tomographic approach may also be applied to artificial references, but a single artificial star cannot solely be used to close an adaptive optics loop. The next key technical challenge is the realization of an adaptive-optics system able to effectively correct, in real time, the wavefront coming from a region of the sky with no bright references.

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Optics adapt to the whole sky

Article Abstract:

It is now possible to correct atmospheric distortion of ground-based optical and near-infrared telescopes in real time by adjusting the surface of a thin flexible mirror. The adaptive optics technique involves determining the commands to the mirror by measuring the distortions in light waves transmitted by a bright guide star. It may soon be possible to apply this technique to the entire sky, rather than only to parts of the sky where there are bright stars. Studies to assess the feasibility of the multi-conjugative adaptive optics concept for existing telescopes are already taking place.

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The dark side of distortion

Article Abstract:

Details of the gravitational effect of the dark matter that seems to fill intergalactic space are reported.

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