An embedded adaptive optics real time controller

The design and realisation of a low cost, high speed control system for adaptive optics (AO) is presented. This control system is built around a field programmable gate array (FPGA). FPGA devices represent a fundamentally different approach to implementing control systems than conventional central processing units. The performance of the FPGA control system is demonstrated in a specifically constructed laboratory AO experiment where closed loop AO correction is shown. An alternative application of the control system is demonstrated in the field of optical tweezing, where it is used to study the motion dynamics of particles trapped within laser foci.