adaptive optics
noun
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: a telescopic system that improves image resolution by compensating for distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence
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Astrolight designs and builds free‑space optical communication systems for satellites and ground stations, including the terminals and adaptive optics hardware needed to maintain stable laser links through atmospheric turbulence.
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Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
By tracking these particles, adaptive optics technologies mounted on the VLT's primary mirrors are able to correct for the blurring and distorting effect of Earth's atmosphere in real time!
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 Feb. 2026
But clever techniques can work around this limitation, including adaptive optics, which rapidly reshapes a mirror in the telescope to counter the motion of overlying air.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 27 Nov. 2025
The solution’s first step came in the form of adaptive optics.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
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Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
By tracking these particles, adaptive optics technologies mounted on the VLT's primary mirrors are able to correct for the blurring and distorting effect of Earth's atmosphere in real time!
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 Feb. 2026
But clever techniques can work around this limitation, including adaptive optics, which rapidly reshapes a mirror in the telescope to counter the motion of overlying air.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 27 Nov. 2025
The solution’s first step came in the form of adaptive optics.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adaptive optics
Cite this Entry
“Adaptive optics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adaptive%20optics. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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