INTENSITY-ONLY MODULATION FOR ATMOSPHERIC SCINTILLATION CORRECTION BYLIQUID-CRYSTAL SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATORS

We consider the use of a ferroelectric liquid-crystal spatial light mo dulator (FLC SLM) to control the transmittance of a telescope pupil to compensate for the effects of scintillation. Our aim here is to prove the necessary and physically interesting result that it is possible t o control the intensity of light by use of FLC SLM without inducing fu rther phase aberrations. Furthermore, we show that system errors have only a small effect on the phase of the transmitted beam. (C) 1996 Opt ical Society of America