Figure 1 |. Concepts of adaptive optics and wavefront sensing.

a, Schematic diagram illustrating the propagating wavefront of the excitation beam in an aberration-free imaging system in which the beam focused as a diffraction limited spot. b, Aberrated wavefront as it propagates through the inhomogeneous imaging sample, resulting in an enlarged and distorted focus. c, Compensating the aberration by the phase modulator to recover the diffraction limited focus. d, Acquiring the desired wavefront for the phase modulator by direct wavefront sensing of the aberrated wavefront that generates by a point source in the sample.