Adaptive optics and related techniques are now routinely used in the field of astronomical observations to compensate images for turbulence induced degradations and to retrieve the telescope diffraction limited resolution. However, for ground-to-ground applications, the effects of turbulence on both passive and active systems are more severe. The environmental constraints are also more important. Nevertheless, adaptive optics issues exist. The purpose of this paper is to review the evolutions of turbulence limitations according to the observing scenario. The turbulence anisoplanatism effects are emphasized. Furthermore, potential fields of application of adaptive optics and related techniques are presented.

Date Published: 15 December 1995
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 2580, Optics in Atmospheric Propagation and Adaptive Systems, (15 December 1995);

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2580:
Optics in Atmospheric Propagation and Adaptive Systems
Anton Kohnle, Editor(s)