Physics M.S. Thesis Defense - Nathaniel R. Morris

Adaptive Optics System Baseline Modeling for a USAF

Quad Axis Telescope

Wright State University

Department of Physics

M.S. Thesis Defense

Nathaniel R. Morris

Advisor: Dr. Jerry Clark

Monday, July 10th at 1:00 pm

103 Oelman Hall

Atmospheric turbulence has afflicted accurate observations of celestial bodies since man first gazed upon the stars.  In this past century, the technology of adaptive optics was invented to help compensate for the optical distortions that atmospheric turbulence causes.  As part of that technology, artificial guide stars, wave front sensors, deformable mirrors, and other optical components were developed to correct these wave aberrations.  The purpose of this study focuses on the modeling and configuration of an adaptive optics system that is appropriate for the John Bryan Observatory Quad Axis Telescope System (JBO-Q), which is funded by the United States Air Force.  Scaling law modeling of site-specific atmospheric parameters using numerical weather data and laser propagation theory was used determination and optimization of some critical system specifications and threshold parameters for this baseline model.