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Science 20 July 1990:
Vol. 249. no. 4966, pp. 253 - 257
DOI: 10.1126/science.249.4966.253
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Articles

Adaptive Optics Revisited

Horace W. Babcock 1

1 Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, 813 Santa Barbara Street, Pasadena, CA 91101

From the earliest days and nights of telescopic astronomy, atmospheric turbulence has been a serious detriment to optical performance. The new technology of adaptive optics can overcome this problem by compensating for the wavefront distortion that results from turbulence. The result will be large gains in resolving power and limiting magnitude, closely approaching the theoretical limit. In other words, telescopic images will be very significantly sharpened. Rapid and accelerating progress is being made today by several groups. Adaptive optics, together with the closely related technology of active optics, seems certain to be utilized in large astronomical telescopes of the future. This may entail significant changes in telescope design.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)