Adaptive Optics for Astronomical Telescopes (Oxford Series in Optical and Imaging Sciences)

Rating:
Summary: The book is a must for readers interested in adaptive optics
Review: The book does an excellent job of describing the basic principles and the practice of adaptive optics for astronomical applications. The author was a pioneer in adaptive optics and in the 1970s he built the first system capable of compensating a large astronomical telescope at visible wavelengths. The book gives a good history of adaptive optics including an excellent bibliography. Wavefront sensors, correctors, laser beacons, and wavefront reconstruction and control systems are described. Current adaptive optics programs are described and future prospects are discussed. I had the good fortune of working with the author at the time the first adaptive optics system was built and the author conveys in this book the excitement we felt about adaptive optics at that time. While the book is very specialized and technical, and the number of readers who will enjoy the book is limited, if you are interested in adaptive optics the reading of this book is a must.

Rating:
Summary: The book is a must for readers interested in adaptive optics
Review: The book does an excellent job of describing the basic principles and the practice of adaptive optics for astronomical applications. The author was a pioneer in adaptive optics and in the 1970s he built the first system capable of compensating a large astronomical telescope at visible wavelengths. The book gives a good history of adaptive optics including an excellent bibliography. Wavefront sensors, correctors, laser beacons, and wavefront reconstruction and control systems are described. Current adaptive optics programs are described and future prospects are discussed. I had the good fortune of working with the author at the time the first adaptive optics system was built and the author conveys in this book the excitement we felt about adaptive optics at that time. While the book is very specialized and technical, and the number of readers who will enjoy the book is limited, if you are interested in adaptive optics the reading of this book is a must.