Active Optics in Modern, Large Optical Telescopes

Active optics is defined as the control of the shape and the alignment of the components of an optical system at low temporal frequencies. For modern large telescopes with flexible monolithic or segmented primary mirrors and also flexible structures this technique is indispensable to reach a performance which is either diffraction limited for an operation in space or limited by the atmosphere for an operation on the ground. This article first describes the theory of active optics, both of the wavefront analysis and the correction mechanisms, then the design of three representative active optics systems, two in telescopes of the four and eight meter class with meniscus mirrors and one in a telescope with a segmented primary mirror, and, finally, presents practical experience with these active optics systems.