Microscope-AOtools: A generalised adaptive optics implementation

Abstract

Microscope-AOtools is a software package which allows for a simple, robust and generalised implementation of adaptive optics (AO) elements. It contains all the necessary methods for set-up, calibration, and aberration correction which are simple to use and function in a robust manner. Aberrations arising from sources such as sample hetero-geneity and refractive index mismatches are constant problems in biological imaging. These aberrations reduce image quality and the achievable depth of imaging, particularly in super-resolution microscopy techniques. AO technology has been proven to be effective in correcting for these aberrations and thereby improving the image quality. However, it has not been widely adopted by the biological imaging community due, in part, to difficulty in set-up and operation of AO, particularly by non-specialist users. Microscope-AOtools offers a robust, easy-to-use implementation of the essential methods for set-up and use of AO techniques. These methods are constructed in a generalised manner that can utilise a range of adaptive optics elements, wavefront sensing techniques and sensorless AO correction methods. Furthermore, the methods are designed to be easily extensible as new techniques arise, leading to a streamlined pipeline for new AO technology and techniques to be adopted by the wider microscopy community.