[Laser] Big adaptive optics

[J Forster]

This idea has been around on that telescope since at least the 1960s. It was first done with movie film as I remember.

-John



James Whitfield wrote:

> I just read an article that was forwarded to me by members of the astronomy club about a technique for using adaptive optics on the 200 inch Hale telescope on Mount Palomar.  The concept is that the dynamics of the atmosphere will cause for brief times on small areas of the image formed by the telescope to have less blurring than the image as a whole or if the pixels are integrated for longer times.  The use of a "fast" ( all of 20 frames per second ) camera is used to capture a succession of images which are then searched for these "lucky" patches which are then combined.  I thought it was interesting reading.  (  If you are curious, try searching for "Palomar" and "Lucky Camera". )
>
> There might be something that can be adapted to light communication experiments at our level.  Maybe use the peak output from an array of 16 light sensors.  Maybe integrate the light comming to a sensor during a frame then reseting it.  Maybe it is just thinking about the optical system for an image telescope as it contrasts to a communications instrument ( What does sharp focus/blurred image mean for a single pixel camera?  Or light modulated with a data stream? ).
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> Does it spark any ideas for any of you?
>
> James
>  n5gui
>