SEMIPASSIVE BIMORPH FLEXIBLE MIRRORS FOR ATMOSPHERIC ADAPTIVE OPTICS APPLICATIONS

A semipassive bimorph mirror is considered as the most promising corre ctor for low-order and at the same time low-cost atmospheric adaptive optical systems. Theoretical and experimental results of the response functions study are presented. A simple response function histeresis c ompensation method is suggested. The efficiency of correcting the firs t eight Zernike polynomials with a 17-electrode bimorph mirror is give n. It is shown that such a corrector can be successfully used to compe nsate turbulence with the Kolmogorov spectrum. (C) 1996 Society of Pho to-Optical instrumentation Engineers.