Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing is a research topic within Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics. Science Explorer counts 22k research works in it since 1950. 11.7% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.
This cluster of papers focuses on the development, principles, and applications of adaptive optics in astronomy and space telescopes. It covers topics such as wavefront sensing, high angular resolution imaging, laser guide star systems, atmospheric turbulence, deformable mirrors, and the performance of adaptive optics systems in various observatories.
- Adaptive Optics
- Wavefront Sensing
- Space Telescopes
- High Angular Resolution
- Laser Guide Star
- Atmospheric Turbulence
- Shack-Hartmann Sensor
- Deformable Mirror
- Astronomical Imaging
- Optical Turbulence
- Research works
- 22k fractional, since 1950
- In the world top 10%
- 2.6k per year above
- Top-10% rate
- 11.7% share of its works in the world top 10%
- Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
- +4% the tick is no change
Which countries lead Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing research?
By volume, China and the United States publish the most (748 and 601 works in 2022–2025).
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 China 748 works
- 2 United States 601 works
- 3 France 205 works
- 4 Germany 111 works
- 5 United Kingdom 101 works
- 6 Italy 101 works
- 7 Russia 92 works
- 8 India 82 works
- 9 Spain 77 works
- 10 Japan 76 works
How concentrated that is
The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.
Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.
Which institutions lead Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing research?
By volume in 2022–2025, Chinese Academy of Sciences publishes the most Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing research, followed by University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and University of Arizona.
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 Chinese Academy of SciencesChina 70 works
- 2 University of Chinese Academy of SciencesChina 67 works
- 3 University of ArizonaUnited States 45 works
- 4 Jet Propulsion LaboratoryUnited States 29 works
- 5 Beijing Institute of TechnologyChina 26 works
- 6 Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and PhysicsChina 25 works
- 7 Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueFrance 25 works
- 8 Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of SciencesChina 22 works
- 9 Changchun University of Science and TechnologyChina 20 works
- 10 University of Science and Technology of ChinaChina 19 works
Who are the leading researchers in Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing?
The most-cited researchers publishing on Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing include David N. Spergel, Edward J. Wollack and M. Halpern.
- 1 David N. Spergel United States 7.9k citations
- 2 Edward J. Wollack United States 7.2k citations
- 3 M. Halpern Canada 7k citations
- 4 A. Amorim France 6.1k citations
- 5 Carlos S. Frenk United Kingdom 4.8k citations
- 6 R. D. Blandford United States 4.8k citations
Ranked by citations received across their whole record, among researchers with at least three works on this topic.
Where is Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing research done?
The largest centres of Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing research in 2022–2025 are Beijing (China), Paris (France), Pasadena (United States) and Xi'an (China). Among places with at least 20 works in it, it is an unusually large share of all research in Pasadena.
Largest cities, 2022–2025
Where it is the local speciality
- PasadenaUS · 55.5 works49×
Location quotient: how much more of its research is in Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing than the world average.
Where is the best place to study Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing?
Among universities, judged by research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Arizona and Australian National University score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.
One dot per university in the table below. The upper left is the interesting corner: small places doing unusually strong work.
| # | University | Score | Top 10% | Specialisation | Works | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Chinese Academy of SciencesChina | 58.2 | 7.0% | 15.6× | 67 | +7.9% |
| 2 | University of ArizonaUnited States | 57.3 | 10.4% | 27.2× | 44 | -16.2% |
| 3 | Australian National UniversityAustralia | 55.9 | 11.3% | 12.5× | 16 | +51.3% |
| 4 | California Institute of TechnologyUnited States | 54.6 | 16.9% | 23.0× | 14 | -38.1% |
| 5 | Durham UniversityUnited Kingdom | 53.9 | 10.3% | 17.4× | 16 | +40.5% |
| 6 | University of California, Santa CruzUnited States | 52.8 | 16.5% | 30.2× | 14 | -48.7% |
| 7 | University of LiègeBelgium | 51.0 | 14.5% | 12.1× | 9 | -6.4% |
| 8 | Beijing Institute of TechnologyChina | 50.4 | 7.9% | 8.6× | 26 | +73.2% |
| 9 | Changchun University of Science and TechnologyChina | 50.1 | 9.1% | 35.3× | 20 | +34.2% |
| 10 | Universidad de La LagunaSpain | 49.4 | 15.9% | 20.8× | 8 | -22.1% |
Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.
Is Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing research growing?
Output in 2018–2022 was 4% higher than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2016. The fastest-growing topics are Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing.
The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.
Which topics inside it are moving
Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.