Image sharpening metrics and search strategies for indirect adaptive optics

Abstract

Adaptive optics is concerned with the correction of turbulence induced aberrations and mis-alignments in optical systems. It is an expensive and complicated technology which has been developed for astronomy and defence applications. Recently, it has found a role within industry and medicine. This thesis deals with a simplified mechanism for adaptive feedback based on the analysis of distorted images, and an iterative feedback process. Simplification is achieved at the expense of speed, but there are particular applications where this technique is suitable. The one considered here is the removal of so-called non-common path errors in a traditional adaptive optics system, which can otherwise degrade the system performance.