Showing papers on "Wavefront published in 2004"

Accuracy and precision of objective refraction from wavefront aberrations

Abstract: We determined the accuracy and precision of 33 objective methods for predicting the results of conventional, sphero-cylindrical refraction from wavefront aberrations in a large population of 200 eyes. Accuracy for predicting defocus (as specified by the population mean error of prediction) varied from -0.50 D to +0.25 D across methods. Precision of these estimates (as specified by 95% limits of agreement) ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 D. All methods except one accurately predicted astigmatism to within +/-1/8D. Precision of astigmatism predictions was typically better than precision for predicting defocus and many methods were better than 0.5D. Paraxial curvature matching of the wavefront aberration map was the most accurate method for determining the spherical equivalent error whereas least-squares fitting of the wavefront was one of the least accurate methods. We argue that this result was obtained because curvature matching is a biased method that successfully predicts the biased endpoint stipulated by conventional refractions. Five methods emerged as reasonably accurate and among the most precise. Three of these were based on pupil plane metrics and two were based on image plane metrics. We argue that the accuracy of all methods might be improved by correcting for the systematic bias reported in this study. However, caution is advised because some tasks, including conventional refraction of defocus, require a biased metric whereas other tasks, such as refraction of astigmatism, are unbiased. We conclude that objective methods of refraction based on wavefront aberration maps can accurately predict the results of subjective refraction and may be more precise. If objective refractions are more precise than subjective refractions, then wavefront methods may become the new gold standard for specifying conventional and/or optimal corrections of refractive errors.

Wave front evolution in strongly heterogeneous layered media using the fast marching method

Abstract: SUMMARY The fast marching method (FMM) is a grid based numerical scheme for tracking the evolution of monotonically advancing interfaces via finite-difference solution of the eikonal equation. Like many other grid based techniques, FMM is only capable of finding the first-arriving phase in continuous media; however, it distinguishes itself by combining both unconditional stability and rapid computation, making it a truly practical scheme for velocity fields of arbitrary complexity. The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential of FMM for finding later arriving phases in layered media. In particular, we focus on reflections from smooth subhorizontal interfaces that separate regions of continuous velocity variation. The method we adopt for calculating reflected phases involves two stages: the first stage initializes FMM at the source and tracks the incident wave front to all points on the reflector surface; the second stage tracks the reflected wave front by reinitializing FMM from the interface point with minimum traveltime. Layer velocities are described by a regular grid of velocity nodes and layer boundaries are described by a set of interface nodes that may be irregularly distributed. A triangulation routine is used to locally suture interface nodes to neighbouring velocity nodes in order to facilitate the tracking of wave fronts to and from the reflector. A number of synthetic tests are carried out to assess the accuracy, speed and robustness of the new scheme. These include comparisons with analytic solutions and with solutions obtained from a shooting method of ray tracing. The convergence of traveltimes as grid spacing is reduced is also examined. Results from these tests indicate that wave fronts can be accurately tracked with minimal computational effort, even in the presence of complex velocity fields and layer boundaries with high curvature. Incident wave fronts containing gradient discontinuities or shocks also pose no difficulty. Further development of the wave front reinitialization scheme should allow other later arrivals such as multiples to be successfully located.

Simultaneous multiple surface optical design method in three dimensions

Abstract: The simultaneous multiple surface (SMS) method in 3-D geometry is presented. Given two orthotomic input ray bundles and another two orthotomic output ray bundles, the method provides an optical system with two free-form surfaces that deflects the rays of the input bundles into the rays of the corresponding output bundles and vice versa. In nonimaging applications, the method enables controlling the light emitted by an extended light source much better than single free-form-surface designs, and also enables the optics contour to be shaped without efficiency losses. The method is also expected to find applications in imaging optics.

Complex-wave retrieval from a single off-axis hologram.

Abstract: We present a new digital two-step reconstruction method for off-axis holograms recorded on a CCD camera. First, we retrieve the complex object wave in the acquisition plane from the hologram's samples. In a second step, if required, we propagate the wave front by using a digital Fresnel transform to achieve proper focus. This algorithm is sufficiently general to be applied to sophisticated optical setups that include a microscope objective. We characterize and evaluate the algorithm by using simulated data sets and demonstrate its applicability to real-world experimental conditions by reconstructing optically acquired holograms.

Compensation of corneal horizontal/vertical astigmatism, lateral coma, and spherical aberration by internal optics of the eye.

Abstract: Both the anterior surface of the cornea and the internal optics (the posterior cornea, crystalline lens) contribute to the aberration of a wavefront passing through the eye. Artal, Guirao, Berrio, and Williams (2001) reported that the wavefront aberrations produced by the internal optics offset, or compensate for, the aberrations produced by the cornea to reduce ocular wavefront aberrations. We have investigated the wavefront aberrations of the cornea, internal optics, and complete eye on both the population and individual level to determine which aberrations are compensated and probable paths leading to that compensation. The corneal and ocular aberrations of 30 young subjects at relaxed accommodation were measured with the Topcon Wavefront Analyzer, which simultaneously measures refraction, corneal topography (videokeratoscope), and wavefront aberrations (Hartmann-Shack sensor). We found strong evidence for compensation of horizontal/vertical (H/V) astigmatism (Zernike term Z5) lateral coma (Z8) and spherical aberration (Z12). H/V astigmatism compensation is scaled for each individual, suggesting that it is actively determined by a fine-tuning process. Spherical aberration shows no individual compensation, suggesting that is a passive result of genetically determined physiology. Lateral coma shows individually scaled compensation, some of which may be attributable to eccentricity of the fovea.

Multiple reflection and transmission phases in complex layered media using a multistage fast marching method

Abstract: Traditional grid-based eikonal schemes for computing traveltimes are usually confined to obtaining first arrivals only. However, later arrivals can be numerous and of greater amplitude, making them a potentially valuable resource for practical applications such as seismic imaging. The aim of this paper is to introduce a grid-based method for tracking multivalued wavefronts composed of any number of reflection and refraction branches in layered media. A finite-difference eikonal solver known as the fast marching method (FMM) is used to propagate wavefronts from one interface to the next. By treating each layer that the wavefront enters as a separate computational domain, one obtains a refracted branch by reinitializing FMM in the adjacent layer and a reflected branch by reinitializing FMM in the incident layer. To improve accuracy, a local grid refinement scheme is used in the vicinity of the source where wavefront curvature is high. Several examples are presented which demonstrate the viability of the new method in highly complex layered media. Even in the presence of velocity variations as large as 8:1 and interfaces of high curvature, wavefronts composed of many reflection and transmission events are tracked rapidly and accurately. This is because the scheme retains the two desirable properties of a single-stage FMM: computational speed and stability. Local grid refinement about the source also can increase accuracy by an order of magnitude with little increase in computational cost.

Spatially filterèd wave-front sensor for high-order adaptive optics

Abstract: Adaptive optics (AO) systems take sampled measurements of the wave-front phase. Because in the general case the spatial-frequency content of the phase aberration is not band limited, aliasing will occur. This aliasing will cause increased residual error and increased scattered light in the point-spread function (PSF). The spatially filtered wave-front sensor (SFWFS) mitigates this phenomenon by using a field stop at a focal plane before the wave-front sensor. This stop acts as a low-pass filter on the phase, significantly reducing the high-spatial-frequency content phase seen by the wave-front sensor at moderate to high Strehl ratios. We study the properties and performance of the SFWFS for open- and closed-loop correction of atmospheric turbulence, segmented-primary-mirror errors, and sensing with broadband light. In closed loop the filter reduces high-spatial-frequency phase power by a factor of 103 to 108. In a full AO-system simulation, this translates to a reduction by up to 625 times in the residual error power due to aliasing over a specific spatial frequency range. The final PSF (generated with apodization of the pupil) has up to a 100 times reduction in intensity out to λ/2d.

Characterizing specimen induced aberrations for high NA adaptive optical microscopy

Abstract: Aberrations are known to severely compromise image quality in optical microscopy, especially when high numerical aperture (NA) lenses are used in confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM) and two-photon microscopy (TPM). The method of adaptive optics may correct aberrations and restore diffraction limited operation. So far the problem of aberrations that occur in the imaging of biological specimens has not been quantified. However, this information is essential for the design of adaptive optics systems. We have therefore built an interferometer incorporating high NA objective lenses to measure the aberrations introduced by biological specimens. The measured wavefronts were decomposed into their Zernike mode content in order both to classify and quantify the aberrations. We calculated the potential benefit of correcting different numbers of Zernike modes using different NAs in an adaptive CFM by comparing the signal levels before and after correction. The results indicate that adaptive correction of low order Zernike modes can provide significant benefit for many specimens. The results also show that quantitative fluorescence microscopy may be strongly affected by specimen induced aberrations in non-adaptive systems.

Phase-only liquid crystal spatial light modulator for wavefront correction with high precision

Abstract: We introduce a novel parallel-aligned liquid-crystal (LC) spatial light modulator (SLM) that has been designed to operate in a phase-only mode for wave-front correction. We measured and analyzed theoretically the electro-optic characteristics of the LC SLM and obtained a peak-to-valley value of 0.07049lambda(lambda= 0.6328microm) after correction. A Strehl ratio of 0.989 indicates the approximate upper limit of an aberrated wave front that the LC SLM can correct when it is used in an adaptive optical system.

Velocity model estimation with data-derived wavefront attributes

Abstract: Kinematic information for constructing velocity models can be extracted in a robust way from seismic prestack data with the common‐reflection‐surface (CRS) stack. This data‐driven process results, in addition to a simulated zero‐offset section, in a number of wavefront attributes—wavefront curvatures and normal ray emergence angles—associated with each simulated zero‐offset sample. A tomographic inversion method is presented that uses this kinematic information to determine smooth, laterally heterogeneous, isotropic subsurface velocity models for depth imaging. The input for the inversion consists of wavefront attributes picked at a number of locations in the simulated zero‐offset section. The smooth velocity model is described by B‐splines. An optimum model is found iteratively by minimizing the misfit between the picked data and the corresponding modeled values. The required forward‐modeled quantities are obtained during each iteration by dynamic ray tracing along normal rays pertaining to the input dat...

Systems and methods for minimizing aberrating effects in imaging systems

Abstract: A biometric optical recognition system includes optics, including a wavefront coding mask, for imaging a wavefront of object to be recognized to an intermediate image, and a detector for detecting the intermediate image. A modulation transfer function detected by the detector contains no zeros such that subsequent task based image processing recognizes the object. A biometric recognition system includes optics for imaging a wavefront of an object to be recognized to a first intermediate image, and a detector for detecting the first intermediate image. The optics include a phase changing element configured for modifying the wavefront such that a modulation transfer function characterizing detection of the first intermediate image contains no zeros such that subsequent task based image processing recognizes the object. In an optical imaging system that includes a solid state detector, a phase-modifying element reduces reflected power from electromagnetic energy incident upon the detector without introducing aberrations.

Generalized phase-shifting interferometry with arbitrary unknown phase steps for diffraction objects.

Abstract: A general method of extracting the arbitrary unknown and unequal phase steps in phase-shift interferometry from interferograms recorded on the diffraction field of an object and then reconstructing the object wave front digitally with our derived formulas is proposed. The phase steps are first calculated based on the statistical nature of the diffraction field and are further improved by an iterative approach. This method is simple, highly accurate, and usable for any frame number N (N > or = 3) and for both smooth and diffusing objects, as is verified by a series of computer simulations.

Optical method and system for enhancing image resolution

Abstract: A method and system are presented for imaging an object with image resolution for at least a part of the object exceeding by a predetermined factor a geometrical resolution defined by a detector pixel array. A predetermined aperture coding is applied to the wavefront of a light signal indicative of at least a part of the object to be imaged with the enhanced resolution, while propagating towards the detector pixel array. The aperture coding is predetermined in accordance with aliasing occurring in the detector plane and such as to provide orthogonality of spectral data indicative of a sampled output of the detector, to thereby enable using the aperture code to reconstruct the image of said at least part of the object with the resolution enhanced by said factor.

Thermal lensing in diode-pumped ytterbium Lasers-Part I: theoretical analysis and wavefront measurements

Abstract: A theoretical and experimental study of thermal lensing in Yb-doped crystals is presented. In this first part, we focus on theoretical considerations and we describe an original technique suitable for thermal lensing measurements in end-pumped materials. We first derive an expression of the temperature distribution with account of absorption saturation and pump beam divergence inside the crystal, and we address a more general discussion on the particularities of quasi-three-level lasers, as far as thermal effects and fracture issues are concerned. The thermal lens was then measured using a simple technique based on a Shack-Hartmann wavefront analyzer, under lasing and nonlasing conditions. We demonstrate that the technique allows precise wavefront measurements even on small spots. Thermal lensing measurements are finally presented in Yb-doped YAG, GGG, YCOB, GdCOB, KGW, and YSO crystals.

Spatially filtered wave-front sensor for high-order adaptive optics.

Abstract: Adaptive optics (AO) systems take sampled measurements of the wave-front phase. Because in the general case the spatial-frequency content of the phase aberration is not band limited, aliasing will occur. This aliasing will cause increased residual error and increased scattered light in the point-spread function (PSF). The spatially filtered wave-front sensor (SFWFS) mitigates this phenomenon by using a field stop at a focal plane before the wave-front sensor. This stop acts as a low-pass filter on the phase, significantly reducing the high-spatial-frequency content phase seen by the wave-front sensor at moderate to high Strehl ratios. We study the properties and performance of the SFWFS for open- and closed-loop correction of atmospheric turbulence, segmented-primary-mirror errors, and sensing with broadband light. In closed loop the filter reduces high-spatial-frequency phase power by a factor of 103 to 108. In a full AO-system simulation, this translates to a reduction by up to 625 times in the residual error power due to aliasing over a specific spatial frequency range. The final PSF (generated with apodization of the pupil) has up to a 100 times reduction in intensity out to λ/2d.

Photorefractive detection of tagged photons in ultrasound modulated optical tomography of thick biological tissues

Abstract: We present a new and simple method to obtain ultrasound modulated optical tomography images in thick biological tissues with the use of a photorefractive crystal. The technique offers the advantage of spatially adapting the output speckle wavefront by analysing the signal diffracted by the interference pattern between this output field and a reference beam, recorded inside the photorefractive crystal. Averaging out due to random phases of the speckle grains vanishes, and we can use a fast single photodetector to measure the ultrasound modulated optical contrast. This technique offers a promising way to make direct measurements within the decorrelation time scale of living tissues.

Methods and devices for registering optical measurement datasets of an optical system

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems and software for registering a first dataset of an object with a second dataset of an object. In one embodiment, the present invention measurers refractive errors of an optical system. The method comprises obtaining a first and second optical measurement of the optical system. The first and second optical measurements are registered with each other and may improve the diagnosis and/or treatment of the refractive errors of the optical system. In one embodiment, the first optical measurement is a topographical map and the second optical measurement is a wavefront measurement.

Improvement of Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor measurement for extreme adaptive optics.

Abstract: The development of high-performance adaptive optics systems requires the optimization of wave-front sensors (WFSs) working in the high-order correction regime. We propose a new method to improve the wave-front slope estimation of a Shack-Hartmann WFS in such a regime. Based on a detailed analysis of the different errors in the slope estimation with a classical centroid and with the new method, the gain in terms of wave-front-sensing accuracy in both the detector and the photon noise regimes is stressed. This improvement is proposed without major system disruption.

Reconstruction of in-line digital holograms from two intensity measurements.

Abstract: We propose a new method based on in-line digital holography for the reconstruction of a wave front from only two intensity recordings. The simulation result shows that this method works well when the object wave is weak compared with the reference wave. This technique can be employed for real-time imaging.

Alignment and wavefront control systems of the National Ignition Facility

Abstract: The National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a stadium-sized facility containing a 192-beam Nd glass laser. Its 1.053-µm output is frequency converted to produce 1.8-MJ, 500-TW pulses in the ultraviolet. Refer to the companion overview articles in this issue for more information. High-energy-density and inertial confinement fusion physics experiments require the ability to precisely align and focus pulses with single-beam energy up to 20 KJ and durations of a few nanoseconds onto millimeter-sized targets. NIF's alignment control system now regularly provides automatic alignment of the four commissioned beams prior to every NIF shot in approximately 45 min, and speed improvements are being implemented. NIF utilizes adaptive optics for wavefront control, which significantly improves the ability to tightly focus each laser beam onto a target. Multiple sources of both static and dynamic aberration are corrected. This article provides an overview of the NIF automatic alignment and wavefront control systems, and provides data to show that the facility is expected to meet its primary requirements to position beams on the target with an accuracy of 50-µm rms over the 192 beams and to focus the pulses into a 600-µm spot.

Exoplanets imaging with a Phase-Induced Amplitude Apodization Coronagraph - I. Principle

Abstract: Using 2 aspheric mirrors, it is possible to apodize a telescope beam without losing light or angular resolution: the output beam is produced by ``remapping'' the entrance beam to produce the desired light intensity distribution in a new pupil. We present the Phase-Induced Amplitude Apodization Coronagraph (PIAAC) concept, which uses this technique, and we show that it allows efficient direct imaging of extrasolar terrestrial planets with a small-size telescope in space. The suitability of the PIAAC for exoplanet imaging is due to a unique combination of achromaticity, small inner working angle (about 1.5 $\lambda/d$), high throughput, high angular resolution and large field of view. 3D geometrical raytracing is used to investigate the off-axis aberrations of PIAAC configurations, and show that a field of view of more than 100 $\lambda/d$ in radius is available thanks to the correcting optics of the PIAAC. Angular diameter of the star and tip-tilt errors can be compensated for by slightly increasing the size of the occulting mask in the focal plane, with minimal impact on the system performance. Earth-size planets at 10 pc can be detected in less than 30s with a 4m telescope. Wavefront quality requirements are similar to classical techniques.

Metrics to predict subjective impact of eye's wave aberration

Abstract: Several metrics to predict the subjective impact of the eye's wavefront aberrations are presented. The metrics can be based on RMS wavefront errors or slopes, the area of the critical pupil, a curvature parameter, the point spread function, the optical transfer function, or the like. Other techniques include the fitting of a sphero-cylindrical surface, the use of multivariate metrics, and customization of the metric for patient characteristics such as age.

System and method of measuring and mapping three dimensional structures

Abstract: A system for mapping a three-dimensional structure includes a projecting optical system adapted to project light onto an object, a correction system adapted to compensate the light for at least one aberration in the object, an imaging system adapted to collect light scattered by the object and a wavefront sensor adapted to receive the light collected by the imaging system and to sense a wavefront of the received light. For highly aberrated structures, a number of wavefront measurements are made which are valid over different portions of the structure, and the valid wavefront data is stitched together to yield a characterization of the total structure.

Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI)

Abstract: The Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI) is the science camera and commissioning instrument for the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) system on the Gemini South telescope. GSAOI is required to deliver diffraction-limited performance at near-infrared wavelengths over a 85"×85" field of view. It must be delivered on a short timescale commensurate with MCAO delivery. GSAOI will use a high throughput, all-refractive optical design and a mosaic of four HAWAII-2RG detectors to form an imager focal plane of 4080x4080 pixels with a fixed scale of 0.02"/pixel. The On-Detector Guide Window (ODGW) capability of the HAWAII-2RG detectors will be used for flexure monitoring and as near-infrared substitutes for MCAO natural guide star wave front sensors. The imager will include a pupil viewer for accurate alignment to MCAO and defocus lenses to measure wave front phase errors at the science detector using the curvature technique. Non-common path wave front errors will be nulled by setting the base shapes of the three MCAO deformable mirrors. The science drivers, performance predictions, optical design issues, and detector system for the instrument are described.

Measurement of specimen-induced aberrations of biological samples using phase stepping interferometry.

Abstract: Confocal or multiphoton microscopes, which deliver optical sections and three-dimensional (3D) images of thick specimens, are widely used in biology. These techniques, however, are sensitive to aberrations that may originate from the refractive index structure of the specimen itself. The aberrations cause reduced signal intensity and the 3D resolution of the instrument is compromised. It has been suggested to correct for aberrations in confocal microscopes using adaptive optics. In order to define the design specifications for such adaptive optics systems, one has to know the amount of aberrations present for typical applications such as with biological samples. We have built a phase stepping interferometer microscope that directly measures the aberration of the wavefront. The modal content of the wavefront is extracted by employing Zernike mode decomposition. Results for typical biological specimens are presented. It was found for all samples investigated that higher order Zernike modes give only a small contribution to the overall aberration. Therefore, these higher order modes can be neglected in future adaptive optics sensing and correction schemes implemented into confocal or multiphoton microscopes, leading to more efficient designs.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Zernike expansion for representing wave aberration of the normal and aberrated eye.

Abstract: PURPOSE: Zernike expansion has been selected for use in describing wavefront aberrations in the human eye. The advantages and limitations of this approach are assessed for eyes with varying degrees of aberration. METHODS:Corneal topography examinations were taken with the Nidek OPD-Scan topographer/aberrometer. These higher data density corneal topography examinations were converted to height data and subsequently to wavefront representations. System noise was evaluated with a 2D frequency analysis of 43-D test balls. Both Zernike polynomials and 2D Fourier transforms were used to evaluate fidelity in the presentation of the point spread function. A display format for potential clinical use was developed based upon Zernike decomposition. RESULTS: Systematic noise from the corneal topographer was found to be minimal and, when eliminated, produced small changes in the point spread function. Using Zernike decomposition up to the 30th order failed to preserve the higher frequency aberrations present in aberrated eyes. Use of a Zernike decomposition display with a fixed micron scale presented only clinically significant details of spherical aberration, coma, trefoil, irregular components above third order and total higher-order aberrations (above second order). CONCLUSIONS: Zernike polynomials excel in extracting the low-order optical characteristics of visual optics. Zernikes accurately represent both low- and high-order aberrations in normal eyes where high-order aberrations are clinically insignificant. For eyes after corneal surgery or eyes with corneal pathology such as keratoconus that have significant higher-order aberrations, the Zernike method fails to capture all clinically significant higher-order aberrations.

Variability of wavefront aberration measurements in small pupil sizes using a clinical Shack-Hartmann aberrometer

Abstract: Recently, instruments for the measurement of wavefront aberration in the living human eye have been widely available for clinical applications. Despite the extensive background experience on wavefront sensing for research purposes, the information derived from such instrumentation in a clinical setting should not be considered a priori precise. We report on the variability of such an instrument at two different pupil sizes. A clinical aberrometer (COAS Wavefront Scienses, Ltd) based on the Shack-Hartmann principle was employed in this study. Fifty consecutive measurements were perfomed on each right eye of four subjects. We compared the variance of individual Zernike expansion coefficients as determined by the aberrometer with the variance of coefficients calculated using a mathematical method for scaling the expansion coefficients to reconstruct wavefront aberration for a reduced-size pupil. Wavefront aberration exhibits a marked variance of the order of 0.45 microns near the edge of the pupil whereas the central part appears to be measured more consistently. Dispersion of Zernike expansion coefficients was lower when calculated by the scaling method for a pupil diameter of 3 mm as compared to the one introduced when only the central 3 mm of the Shack – Hartmann image was evaluated. Signal-to-noise ratio was lower for higher order aberrations than for low order coefficients corresponding to the sphero-cylindrical error. For each subject a number of Zernike expansion coefficients was below noise level and should not be considered trustworthy. Wavefront aberration data used in clinical care should not be extracted from a single measurement, which represents only a static snapshot of a dynamically changing aberration pattern. This observation must be taken into account in order to prevent ambiguous conclusions in clinical practice and especially in refractive surgery.

Mechanically-adjustable optical phase filters for modifying depth of field, aberration-tolerance, anti-aliasing in optical systems

Abstract: An optical system with mechanical adjustment provides for the rotation and/or translation of one or more optical phase filters to variably select an extended depth of field, aberration-tolerance, and/or anti-aliasing properties of an optical imaging system. By adjusting the amount of phase induced on the wavefront, a user may select image quality selectively. The system may further automatically counter change of focus and/or aperture to maintain substantially constant image properties. Typically, two phase filters are used and moved concurrently to achieve desired image properties.

Performance of Subaru Cassegrain Adaptive Optics System

Abstract: The design and performance of the Cassegrain Adaptive Optics (AO) system for the 8.2m Subaru Telescope are reported. The system is based on a curvature wavefront sensor with 36 photon-counting avalanche photodiode modules and a bimorph wavefront correcting deformable mirror with 36 driving electrodes. The engineering first light of the AO system took place in 2000 December. The AO system has been in service since 2002 April for two open-use instruments, an infrared camera and spectrograph and a coronagraph imager with adaptive optics. The Strehl ratio in the K-band is around 0.3 for bright guide stars under 0. �� 4 K-band seeing condition. The control loop performs with 2060 corrections per second. High sensitivity of the wavefront sensor allows significant improvement in the image quality, even for faint guide stars down to R = 18mag. The FWHM of stellar images in a globular cluster was measured to derive an estimation of the isoplanatic angle and was found nearly constant out to 30 �� from the guide star, indicating that the height of the effective turbulent layer of that particular night was less than 1.8km. The on-going upgrade plans for a fivefold increase in the number of control elements and for the installation of a laser guide AO system are described.