Characterization of adaptive optics point spread function for anisoplanatic imaging. Application to stellar field deconvolution

ONERA, BP. 72, F-92322 Chatillon Cedex, France

Received: 10 November 1999
Accepted: 22 December 1999

Abstract

The point spread function (PSF) of an adaptive optics system evolves in the Field Of View (FOV). This variation strongly limits the conventional deconvolution methods for the processing of wide FOV images. A theoretical expression of this PSF variation is derived. This expression is both validated on simulations and experimental data. It is then applied to the a posteriori processing of stellar fields. Using the available prior information about the object (point-like sources), this technique allows the restoration of the star parameters (positions and intensities) with a precision much better than the conventional methods, in a FOV much larger than the isoplanatic field.