  Adaptive optics (AO) offers an opportunity to stabilize an image and maximize
the spatial resolution achievable by ground based telescopes by removing the
distortions due to the atmosphere. Typically, the deformable mirror in an AO
system is integrated into the optical path between the secondary mirror and
science instrument; in some cases, the deformable mirror is integrated into the
telescope itself as an adaptive secondary mirror.However including the
deformable mirror as the primary mirror of the telescope has been left largely
unexplored due to the previous cost and complexity of large-format deformable
mirror technology. In recent years this technology has improved, leaving
deformable primary mirrors as a viable avenue towards higher actuator density
and a simplification in testing and deploying adaptive optics systems. We
present a case study to explore the benefits and trade-offs of integrating an
adaptive optics system using the primary mirror of the telescope in
small-to-mid-sized telescopes.
