Abstract: A wide variety of deformable mirror structures have been studied for wavefront correction since the advent of adaptive optics nearly two decades ago. These structures generally fall into two categories: (1) segmented facesheet and (2) continuous facesheet. The segmented mirror technology features independently activated mirror elements controlled in the piston, tip, and tilt modes. The continuous facesheet designs use discrete electroceramic or electrostatic displacement actuators arranged in either an axial or bimorph position to bend the continuous facesheet. In addition there are two methods of correction: (1) zonal control and (2) modal control. The basic mirror types are discussed and analyzed in terms of wavefront correction capabilities. Curve fitting characteristics are explained in terms of the optical influence function and mirror meshing functions. The continuous facesheet deformable mirror is used as a model to develop basic design equations which are used for parametric trades. !21
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