Introduction to the
Center for Adaptive Optics
Winter 2003
What is Adaptive Optics?
• Adaptive Optics (AO) refers to optical systems which adapt to
compensate for optical effects introduced by the medium between the
object and its image.
• In Astronomy:
– AO technology can remove the blurring/twinkling effect of the Earth's
atmosphere that has long plagued ground-based astronomers.
– It allows ground-based telescopes to achieve image clarity previously
attainable only by space-based instruments.
• In Vision Science and Ophthalmology:
– AO makes it practical for scientists to study individual photoreceptors in the
retinas of living human eyes. Without AO, the eye’s lens and cornea distort
images of the retina, making it impossible to study individual cells on the
retina.
– In addition, AO can help ophthalmologists make better glasses and contacts,
and improve overall diagnosis/study of eye diseases.
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Astronomical AO Example: Neptune
With adaptive optics
2.3 arc sec
Without adaptive optics
Credit: Keck Observatory, LLNL, UCB
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Vision Science AO Example
Without adaptive optics
With adaptive optics
Scale: Individual photoreceptors are ~2 microns across.
Credit: Austin Roorda, University of Houston
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What is the Center for Adaptive Optics?
• The CfAO is one of 5 National Science Foundation
“Science and Technology Centers” started in Fall 1999.
– Funded by NSF for 5 years (through 2004) at ~$4 million per year,
and renewable for an additional 5 years (through 2009).
• CfAO’s Purpose:
– To advance and disseminate the technology of adaptive optics in
service to science, health care, industry, and education.
• CfAO’s Goal:
– To lead the revolution in AO, by developing and demonstrating the
technology, creating major improvements in AO systems, and
catalyzing advances nationwide within the next decade.
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CfAO’s Research Themes
• Theme 1 - Education and Human Resources
– Increase interest and knowledge of CfAO activities in broader community.
– Professional development of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
– Promote increased participation, retention, and advancement of underrepresented high
school and college students in Science, Math, Engineering and Technology careers.
• Theme 2 - AO for Extremely Large Telescopes
– Complete AO system design for the next generation of large telescopes (30100 meters in diameter).
• Key technologies: Laser guide stars, Multi-conjugate AO
• Theme 3 - Extreme Adaptive Optics
– Advanced AO systems optimized for ultra-high contrast astronomical imaging
of extra-solar planets and planetary systems.
• Key technologies: Coronographs, Wavefront Sensors
• Theme 4 - Compact Vision Science Instrumentation
– Develop compact AO imaging instruments for mainstream clinical and
scientific use.
• Key technologies: MEMS Deformable Mirrors
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Example CfAO Project:
Laser guide stars (Theme 2)
Keck Observatory
Lick Observatory
Credit: UCO Lick Observatory
Credit: John McDonald,
Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Corp.
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CfAO Members
•Members:
–UCSC (Center Headquarters)
–UCB, UCI, UCLA, UCSD
–California Institute of Technology
–University of Chicago
–University of Rochester
–University of Houston
–Indiana University
–Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
–Carthage College
–W.M. Keck Observatory
•Partners
–Gemini Observatory
–National Optical Astronomy Observatory
–Jet Propulsion Laboratory
–Canadian Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
–Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
•Industrial Partners
–Lucent Technologies
–Bausch & Lomb
–Boston Micromachines Corporation
–MEMS Optical
–Rockwell
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“Center” Attributes
• Encourages technology transfer , knowledge sharing, and
collaboration between vision science, astronomy, and
engineering.
• Most CfAO member sites are equipped with
videoconferencing equipment used for:
–
–
–
–
Casual meetings between members.
Remote auditing of graduate courses.
CfAO Executive Board meetings.
Event planning meetings.
• Supports building industry partnerships.
• Supports multi-site collaborations.
• Supports travel for members visiting other sites.
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Summer Research
Internship Program
Winter 2003
What is it?
•A paid, full-time 8-week program
for interns to participate in
ongoing research projects at
various CfAO sites.
•Program includes orientation at
UCSC during first week and
student symposium at end of 8week program.
•The program is for:
–Community college students
–Undergraduates from 4-year
universities
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What’s in it for you?
•Experience working with professors,
researchers, and graduate students on
cutting-edge research in astronomy, vision
science, and engineering.
•Your own research project at a CfAO
Institution.
•Involvement in a nationally recognized
community of scientists.
•$2500 stipend, plus housing and travel
expenses.
•An overall experience that will help you
formulate and refine goals for your future
education and career.
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Opportunities for Summer 2003
•Indiana University - 2 interns
–Analysis of data and/or hardware from
retina camera.
•LLNL - 3 interns
–Variety of projects involving astronomy,
vision science, communications, remote
sensing and lasers.
•University of Rochester - 2 interns
–Operation of AO camera for the eye,
and experiments for biomedical
applications.
•UCLA - 2 interns
–Analysis of AO observations of the
center of our Galaxy, and of distant
galaxies.
–Assembly and testing of AO
instrumentation.
•UCSC - 3 interns
–Evaluation of HIRES spectrograph dewar
upgrades.
–Improvements to the thermal environment
of the Lick 120-inch telescope.
–Development of AO demonstration tools.
•Montana State University - 1 intern
–Analysis and mathematical postprocessing of eye data from University of
Houston’s AO Scanning Laser
Ophthalmoscope.
•University of Houston - 2 interns
–Creation of large mosaicked image maps
of research subjects’ retinas.
–Interpretation of 3-D images of human
retinas.
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Where to get more information
•Today’s Speaker:
–Flyer
–Application Packet
•CfAO Web Site:
http://cfao.ucolick.org
–Flyer
–Application Packet
–2002 Intern Profiles
–2002 Symposium Presentations
•Contact CfAO:
–Phone: 831-459-5592
–Email: cfao@ucolick.org
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Dates and Deadlines
•Applications Due:
–February 14, 2003 at 5:00pm
•Selection Notification:
–By March 15, 2003
•Placement Notification:
–By March 20, 2003
•Orientation at UCSC:
–June 23-29, 2003
•Internship Projects:
–June 30-August 8, 2003
•Symposium at UCSC:
–August 11, 2003
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