Adaptive optics for lasers

Adaptive optical systems based on a bimorph deformable mirror as wavefront corrector and Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor offer the prospect to improve greatly the capabilities of high power laser focusability. The authors have the practical experience of successful developing and embedding such systems in really working high-power laser facilities (HELEN, FELIX, TRIDENT, FIREX etc.), And some problems concerned with correct choice of characteristics for the key elements of adaptive system (deformable mirror, sensor, preset adjustment, shot-to-shot correcting algorithm) are discussed.