Abstract

Wavefront correctors (WFC) in adaptive optics systems are usually made of thin continuous or segmented mirrors, which are shaped by the converse piezo-electric or magnetostrictive effects. Three years ago we started a government-funded research aimed at evaluating the feasibility of a WFC for astronomy, based on the electro-optical effect in nematic liquid crystals (NLC). If homogeneusely aligned NLCs are tuned, their extraordinary refractive index vary, with a variation range up to 0.3. If we superimpose two layers at 90 degrees, we can have an addressable matrix with varying refractive index. When applying small voltages to each actuator cell, the LC long molecules align along the electric field, thus rotating the Fresnel ellipsoid.

© 1992 Optical Society of America