title: A low cost adaptive optics system using a membrane mirror.
abstract: A low cost adaptive optics system constructed almost entirely of commercially available components is presented. The system uses a 37 actuator membrane mirror and operates at frame rates up to 800Hz using a single processor. Numerical modelling of the membrane mirror is used to optimize parameters of the system. The dynamic performance of the system is investigated in detail using a diffractive wavefront generator based on a ferroelectric spatial light modulator. This is used to produce wavefronts with time-varying aberrations. The ability of the system to correct for Kolmogorov turbulence with different strengths and effective wind speeds is measured experimentally using the wavefront generator.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Munro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dainty