A Design Study on Adaptive Primaries for 1-2 Meter Class Telescopes

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential advantages and challenges of using adaptive primary mirrors in small-to-mid-sized telescopes to improve image stability and resolution through adaptive optics technology.

Contribution

It presents a case study analyzing the benefits and trade-offs of implementing adaptive optics directly on the primary mirror of telescopes.

Findings

Potential for higher actuator density in adaptive primary mirrors

Simplification in testing and deployment of adaptive optics systems

Feasibility of adaptive primary mirrors for small-to-mid-sized telescopes

Abstract

Adaptive optics (AO) offers an opportunity to stabilize an image and maximize the spatial resolution achievable by ground based telescopes by removing the distortions due to the atmosphere. Typically, the deformable mirror in an AO system is integrated into the optical path between the secondary mirror and science instrument; in some cases, the deformable mirror is integrated into the telescope itself as an adaptive secondary mirror.However including the deformable mirror as the primary mirror of the telescope has been left largely unexplored due to the previous cost and complexity of large-format deformable mirror technology. In recent years this technology has improved, leaving deformable primary mirrors as a viable avenue towards higher actuator density and a simplification in testing and deploying adaptive optics systems. We present a case study to explore the benefits and trade-offs of integrating an adaptive optics system using the primary mirror of the telescope in small-to-mid-sized telescopes.