<title>Multisegment spatial light modulators for the simulation of Kolmogorov turbulence</title>

Abstract

We discuss the use of Liquid Crystal Phase Modulators (LCPM) as a repeatable disturbance test source for use with adaptive optics systems. LCPMs have the potential to induce controlled, repeatable, dynamic aberrations into optical systems at low cost, low complexity, and high flexibility. Since they are programmable, and can be operated as transmissive elements, they can easily be inserted into the optical path of an adaptive optics system and used to generate a disturbance test source. Laboratory experiments with a Meadowlark LCPM are presented.