New Wavefront Reconstructor for the MMT Adaptive Secondary

Abstract

In this paper we present a reconstructor optimized to fully utilize spatial and temporal correlations of the measured wavefront and a hardware implementation being built for the adaptive optics system for the new 6.5m single-mirror MMT. We compare the projected performance for a closed-loop system which drives the mirror to obtain a wavefront sensor null with a system designed to “optimally” utilize measurements from the source--which may be a laser guide star.