Abstract

Since the beginnings of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) programs in Directed Energy Weapons, specifically high energy laser (HEL) based systems, this organization has supported programs that extend the state-of-the-art in adaptive optics. These concepts have been closely woven with the development of very large mirrors that play an active role in the "beam control" adaptive optics system. These mirrors are very lightweight for space application and their demanding design requirements raised early questions about whether scalable technology could even be developed and whether these optics could be economically manufactured. Though the requirements for beam projecting systems are different than astronomical imaging applications, there are enough similar technologies involved that these systems should be of interest to this audience.

© 1992 Optical Society of America