Abstract

The use of large-aperture telescopes for various ground-based and space-based applications demands high-quality imaging capabilities. In many cases, the cost and complexity of such optical systems is prohibitive. Innovative adaptive optics using a membrane light modulator (MLM) offers the potential of providing high-quality real-time compensation of large-aperture telescopes with relatively inexpensive components. A particular spatial light modulator (SLM)— the charge-transfer membrane light modulator (CTMLM)—is chosen over other devices because of its potential to function as a compact, rugged, corrector element, providing a large number of pixels with reasonable dynamic range and response time. This choice of device was motivated by our previous studies and experiments using other SLMs, including liquid crystal light valves. A typical MLM¹ consists of a large array of highly reflective deformable membrane pixels formed on the surface of a charge transfer plate (CTP). The pixels can be driven electrostatically by direct hard-wire contacting, via electron-beam addressing, as well as by optical addressing. These devices¹ were originally developed for display systems and optical data processing networks. We exploit the fact that the membrane can impose a phase shift onto a pixelized input beam, thereby controlling its optical wavefront.

© 1993 Optical Society of America