Adaptive Optics for Astronomy and Remote Spectroscopy

By Ankit SinghReviewed by Louis CastelOct 24 2025

Light traveling from stars, galaxies, and other celestial bodies to Earth is distorted by the Earth's atmosphere. This distortion arises due to atmospheric turbulence, where variations in air density and temperature cause fluctuations in the refractive index. As a result, images captured by ground-based telescopes appear blurred and lose detail, limiting the potential for high-resolution astronomical observation. Similarly, this atmospheric disturbance impairs the quality of spectral data collected from Earth-observing satellites and airborne sensors. 

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Adaptive optics (AO) technology addresses this challenge by actively correcting wavefront distortions in real time, improving image sharpness and spectral accuracy. This article explores the essential role of AO in enhancing ground-based astronomy and remote spectroscopy. It also discusses how AO systems work, their applications, industrial drivers of its adoption, and future technological developments.^1,2

How Adaptive Optics Works in Practice

AO systems enhance image quality by correcting distortions in light caused by atmospheric effects. The process begins with measuring the distorted wavefront of light as it arrives at a telescope or sensor. A wavefront sensor, such as the Shack-Hartmann type, divides the incoming light into sub-apertures and measures deviations from the ideal wavefront shape.^1,2

These measurements are then sent to a control system, which directs a deformable mirror to reshape its surface in real time. The mirror is equipped with tiny actuators that quickly adjust to offset distortions, helping to return the light beam to something much closer to its original planar form before it reaches the detector. This correction loop runs at high frequencies, often thousands of times per second, to keep up with the fast-changing effects of atmospheric turbulence.^1,2

Technological maturity has made AO a fundamental feature of large telescopes worldwide, but limitations remain. Wavefront sensing requires a bright reference object, such as a natural star or an artificial laser guide star, to provide accurate measurements.¹

Moreover, factors such as changing atmospheric conditions, the limited number of deformable mirrors, and computational delays impose practical limits on correction quality. Despite these challenges, continuous advancements in sensor resolution, deformable mirror actuator density, and real-time processing algorithms are steadily improving the performance of AO.¹

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Precision in the Stars: AO in Ground-Based Astronomy

Ground-based astronomy has greatly benefited from AO. The European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope and the Keck Observatory use advanced AO systems to achieve diffraction-limited resolution from the Earth’s surface, rivaling images captured from space telescopes. These systems enable astronomers to capture sharper images of distant stars, resolve planetary features, and study the structure of galaxies with exquisite detail. A key application of this technology is in the detection and characterization of exoplanets, where AO enhances contrast and clarity to distinguish planets from their much brighter host stars.³

Commercially, companies such as ALPAO and HartSCI supply deformable mirrors, wavefront sensors, and control electronics tailored for astronomical AO. ALPAO’s electromagnetic actuator-based deformable mirrors offer high precision, speed, and stability, supporting instruments at major observatories. HartSCI’s ClearStar AO system provides turnkey solutions that integrate easily with professional telescopes, delivering diffraction-limited performance in near-infrared wavelengths typical of many astronomical observations.^4,5

From Space to Surface: Adaptive Optics in Remote Spectroscopy

Beyond visible astronomy, AO enhances remote spectroscopy techniques, such as LIDAR and hyperspectral imaging, which are used for Earth observation, climate monitoring, defense, and resource exploration. These methods require high spatial and spectral resolution to detect small amounts of gases, assess vegetation health, and monitor pollutants in the atmosphere.^6-8

Atmospheric turbulence affects the spatial resolution and spectral fidelity of these systems. AO corrects these distortions to enhance spatial targeting, enabling more detailed differentiation between surface features or atmospheric layers. In airborne LIDAR systems, AO improves ranging precision by maintaining tightly focused laser beams. This correction is important for precise topographical mapping, atmospheric profiling, and target identification over long distances.^6-8

From satellite platforms, AO optimizes the light collection efficiency of spectrometers, improving detection limits for trace gases or pollutants. Similarly, hyperspectral imagers benefit from AO by reducing spectral mixing between adjacent pixels, which is caused by blurring. This leads to more accurate spectral signatures, which are important for environmental monitoring and defense applications.^6-8

Industrial and Commercial Drivers of AO Adoption

The increasing demand for high-resolution optical imaging drives commercial investment in AO technologies. Besides astronomy and remote sensing, telecommunications operators like Bertin Technologies utilize AO to stabilize free-space optical communication links at gigabit per second data rates. This helps in managing the effects of atmospheric turbulence and ensures reliable signal transfer.

Biomedical imaging, particularly retinal and cellular microscopy, employs AO to counteract aberrations in tissues. This technology is crucial for diagnostic procedures as it increases contrast and resolution. Imagine Eyes has developed commercial AO retinal cameras, such as the RTX1, for cellular-level imaging of the human retina. Similarly, other companies like Boston Micromachines Corporation and Phaseform GmbH have also developed advanced AO systems for various applications in life sciences and microscopy.^9-11

Market analysis projects that AO technologies will grow at a rate of over 25% annually over the next decade. A key driver of this growth is the integration of AI and machine learning, which are streamlining wavefront correction by automating complex processes. These advances not only boost system speed but also reduce the reliance on specialized expertise, making the technology more accessible across a range of industries.^12-14

Future Developments in Adaptive Optics Technology

AO systems are becoming more compact and versatile. New miniaturized units are being designed for CubeSats and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), enabling high-quality imaging and spectroscopy in compact, cost-effective platforms. Additionally, machine learning is playing a bigger role in AO by enhancing wavefront prediction and control. Deep learning models, trained on atmospheric conditions, can predict wavefront distortions, which helps reduce delays in AO systems and improves the accuracy of corrections.^8,13,14

Collaboration between academic researchers and industry innovators speeds up the development of new materials, novel actuator designs, and enhanced algorithms. Moreover, improvements in real-time data processing and integration with other optical technologies promise to expand the applications of AO.  As AO technology advances, it will lead to next-generation optical systems that combine portability, energy efficiency, and precision previously unattainable from ground-based or remote platforms.

Want to see what spectroscopy can do in space? Read on here

References and Further Reading

1. Hampson, K. M. et al. (2021). Adaptive optics for high-resolution imaging. Nature Reviews Methods Primers, 1(1), 1-26. DOI:10.1038/s43586-021-00066-7. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43586-021-00066-7
2. From Blur to Clarity: A Deep Dive into Adaptive Optics. Axiom Optics. https://www.axiomoptics.com/application/adaptive-optics/
3. Rao, C. et al. (2024). Astronomical adaptive optics: a review. PhotoniX 5, 16. DOI:10.1186/s43074-024-00118-7. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43074-024-00118-7
4. Adaptive Optics ALPAO. Bertin Technologies. https://www.bertin-technologies.com/on-demand-systems/space/optical-communication/adaptive-optics/
5. HartSCI ClearStar Adaptive Optics. PlaneWave Instruments. https://planewave.com/products/hartsci-clearstar-adaptive-optics/
6. Bolbasova, L.A. et al. (2022). Atmospheric Research for Adaptive Optics. Atmos Ocean Opt 35, 288–302. DOI:10.1134/S1024856022030022. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S1024856022030022
7. Chandra, A. et al. (2022). Adaptive hyperspectral imaging using structured illumination in a spatial light modulator-based interferometer. Optics Express. DOI:10.1364/oe.459824. https://opg.optica.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-30-11-19930&id=473026
8. Mukhtar, S. et al. (2025). Compact Spectral Imaging: A Review of Miniaturized and Integrated Systems. Laser & Photonics Reviews, e01042. DOI:10.1002/lpor.202501042. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lpor.202501042
9. Liu, Y. et al. (2024). Ultrafast adaptive optics for imaging the living human eye. Nature Communications, 15(1), 1-17. DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-54687-z. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54687-z
10. Optical Communication. Bertin Technologies. https://www.bertin-technologies.com/on-demand-systems/space/optical-communication/
11. rtx1 Adaptive Optics Retinal Camera. Imagine Eyes. https://www.imagine-eyes.com/products/rtx1/
12. Adaptive Optics Market Size, Share & Segmentation, By Component. (2025). S&S Insider. https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/adaptive-optics-market-6266
13. Guo, Y. et al. (2022). Adaptive optics based on machine learning: a review. Opto-Electronic Advances, 200082. DOI:10.29026/oea.2022.200082. https://www.oejournal.org/oea/article/doi/10.29026/oea.2022.200082
14. Yang, S. et al. (2025). Lightweight convolutional neural network for wavefront reconstruction via a Shack-Hartmann sensor with spatial downsampled microlens. Optics Express. DOI:10.1364/oe.568381. https://opg.optica.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-33-19-40948&id=579025

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