Lighter Side of Adaptive Optics (Press Monograph) Book

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) - IndexRead More