The use of liquid crystal adaptive optics devices in astronomy
Images obtained from large astronomical telescopes are distorted and blurred by the effects of the atmosphere. In order to compensate for this, an adaptive optics system can be incorporated downstream from the telescope focus. Conventional technology uses small piezo-driven mirrors to deviate the wa...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Published: |
Durham University
1991
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.306177 |
| id |
ndltd-bl.uk-oai-ethos.bl.uk-306177 |
|---|---|
| record_format |
oai_dc |
| spelling |
ndltd-bl.uk-oai-ethos.bl.uk-3061772015-03-19T05:34:13ZThe use of liquid crystal adaptive optics devices in astronomyLove, Gordon D.1991Images obtained from large astronomical telescopes are distorted and blurred by the effects of the atmosphere. In order to compensate for this, an adaptive optics system can be incorporated downstream from the telescope focus. Conventional technology uses small piezo-driven mirrors to deviate the wavefronts through angles of the order of tens of arcseconds. This thesis is concerned with the possible replacement of these mirrors with liquid crystal phase control devices, in particular, small-angle prisms. The thesis considers the following fundamental optical properties of liquid crystals relevant to astronomy; dispersion, optical quality, dynamic range, and response times. Results of a novel approach to electrically addressing liquid crystals by a ramp voltage are given.520AstronomyDurham Universityhttp://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.306177http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/6089/Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| collection |
NDLTD |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
520 Astronomy |
| spellingShingle |
520 Astronomy Love, Gordon D. The use of liquid crystal adaptive optics devices in astronomy |
| description |
Images obtained from large astronomical telescopes are distorted and blurred by the effects of the atmosphere. In order to compensate for this, an adaptive optics system can be incorporated downstream from the telescope focus. Conventional technology uses small piezo-driven mirrors to deviate the wavefronts through angles of the order of tens of arcseconds. This thesis is concerned with the possible replacement of these mirrors with liquid crystal phase control devices, in particular, small-angle prisms. The thesis considers the following fundamental optical properties of liquid crystals relevant to astronomy; dispersion, optical quality, dynamic range, and response times. Results of a novel approach to electrically addressing liquid crystals by a ramp voltage are given. |
| author |
Love, Gordon D. |
| author_facet |
Love, Gordon D. |
| author_sort |
Love, Gordon D. |
| title |
The use of liquid crystal adaptive optics devices in astronomy |
| title_short |
The use of liquid crystal adaptive optics devices in astronomy |
| title_full |
The use of liquid crystal adaptive optics devices in astronomy |
| title_fullStr |
The use of liquid crystal adaptive optics devices in astronomy |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The use of liquid crystal adaptive optics devices in astronomy |
| title_sort |
use of liquid crystal adaptive optics devices in astronomy |
| publisher |
Durham University |
| publishDate |
1991 |
| url |
http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.306177 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT lovegordond theuseofliquidcrystaladaptiveopticsdevicesinastronomy AT lovegordond useofliquidcrystaladaptiveopticsdevicesinastronomy |
| _version_ |
1716741370012499968 |