Myopic deconvolution of adaptive optics images by use of object and point-spread function power spectra: reply to comment

Partial correction in adaptive optics (AO) is well understood now. This partial correction is due to the limitations of the AO system performance, which leaves residual phase fluctuations in the instrument pupil. Knowledge of these residuals allows the optical transfer function (OTF) of the high-angular-resolution imaging system to be estimated accurately. Therefore, light scattering by aerosols cannot be invoked to justify the shape of an AO partial-correction OTF in astronomical conditions. The light scattering does not modify the high-angular-resolution OTF but merely contributes to a slight increase of the sky background. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 010.1080, 010.1330, 100.1830, 100.3020, 100.3190, 110.6770.