Lighter Side of Adaptive Optics (SPIE Press Monograph Vol. PM191)

Adaptive optics has been under development for well over 40 years. It is an indisputable necessity for all major ground-based astronomical telescopes and is the foundation for laser and wavefront sensor design. Lighter Side of Adaptive Optics is a nontechnical explanation of optics, the atmosphere, and the technology for 'untwinkling' the stars. While interweaving a fictional romantic relationship as an analogy to adaptive optics, and inserting satire, humor, and philosophical rants, Tyson brings a difficult scientific topic to its knees. The 'why' and 'how' of adaptive optics has never been more enjoyable.

Contents

- Foreword
- Love is in the Air
- The Atmosphere Has Gas
- Adaptive Optics Systems and Some Cool Things about Light Beams
- Clever Wavefront Sensors
- Laser Guide Stars, the Beacons in the Night
- Mirrors that Get Bent Out of Shape
- Computers That Shouldn't Crash
- Other Ways to Do It
- Putting the System Together
- Getting the Blasted Thing to Work Right or Even Work at All
- Fun with Shining Lasers into Your Eyes
- A Happy Ending
- Backword: The Leslie B. Smythe Story
- Bibliography (Some other books about adaptive optics that aren't nearly as funny as this one)
- Index