Compact adaptive optics based on a micromachined deformable mirror and a single photodetector

Summary form only given. Adaptive optics can be used in free-space optical communication links to compensate the distorted wavefront of a laser beam propagated through atmospheric turbulence and maximize the energy incident onto the receiver. For this application it is desirable to minimize the size and cost of the adaptive optics system. In the paper we present the first implementation of a compact adaptive optics system based on a micromachined deformable mirror and the optimization of the power received onto a single pixel photodetector.