The adaptive optics and wavefront correction systems for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope

The high order adaptive optics (HOAO) system is the centerpiece of the ATST wavefront correction system. The ATST wavefront correction system is required to achieve a Strehl of S = 0.6 or better at visible wavelength. The system design closely follows the successful HOAO implementation at the Dunn Solar Telescope and is based on the correlating Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. In addition to HOAO the ATST will utilize wavefront sensors to implement active optics (aO) and Quasi Static Alignment (QSA) of the telescope optics, which includes several off-axis elements. Provisions for implementation of Multi-conjugate adaptive optics have been made with the design of the optical path that feeds the instrumentation at the coudé station. We will give an overview of the design of individual subsystems of the ATST wavefront correction system and describe some of the unique features of the ATST wavefront correction system, such as the need for thermally controlled corrective elements.