Adaptive Optics and Wavefront Metrology

  • Programme type: Research
  • Study location:
  • Edinburgh

Overview

Adaptive Optics (AO) is a technique for real-time manipulation of the properties of optical systems. AO has found widespread application in astronomy. However, our main interest in this relatively new technique is for applications in industrial and bio-medical areas.

An important aspect of the operation of an AO system is the ability quickly and accurately to determine the shape of an optical wavefront. We use a technique called 'phase-diversity' to measure the wavefront shape. In essence, phase-diverse measurements use the intensity variations produced when a distorted wavefront propagates a long distance. Similar variations of intensity are produced on the floor on a swimming pool. In this case the intensity patterns are produced by the distortions due to the shape of the air-water interface.

We design distorted diffraction gratings that simulate the effects of long propagation distances in a short instrument. These gratings can be manufactured by the diffractive optics group here and have allowed us to make measurements of the wavefront shape to a current best precision of ~0.7nm in wavefront curvature by a simple, robust and non-interferometric method.

Future work is directed to improve further the accuracy of these measurements and to use the technique in a wide variety of commercial and fundamental research applications. The work is supported by a substantial research grant from the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council through the Smart Optics Faraday Partnership.

Research

Entry requirements

Contac the School

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we’ll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum requirement for English language is IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. We offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your masters programme:

  • 2 semesters English (for IELTS of 4.5-5.0);
  • 12 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5);
  • 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5*-6.0). (*minimum 5.5 reading and writing)

Tuition fees

Fees for this programme can be found on our Tuition fees page.

Scholarships & bursaries