Specialized Wavefront Sensors for Adaptive Optics

Specialized Wavefront Sensors for Adaptive Optics
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 10
Release: 1995
Genre:
ISBN:

The performance of an adaptive optical system is strongly dependent upon correctly measuring the wavefront of the arriving light. The most common wavefront measurement techniques used to date are the shearing interferometer and the Shack-Hartmann sensor. Shack-Hartmann sensors rely on the use of lenslet arrays to sample the aperture appropriately. These have traditionally been constructed using ULM or step and repeat technology, and more recently with binary optics technology. Diffractive optics fabrication methodology can be used to remove some of the limitations of the previous technologies and can allow for low-cost production of sophisticated elements. We have investigated several different specialized wavefront sensor configurations using both Shack-Hartmann and shearing interferometer principles. We have taken advantage of the arbitrary nature of these elements to match pupil shapes of detector and telescope aperture and to introduce magnification between the lenslet array and the detector. We have fabricated elements that facilitate matching the sampling to the current atmospheric conditions. The sensors were designed using a far-field diffraction model and a photolithography layout program. They were fabricated using photolithography and RIE etching. Several different designs will be presented with some experimental results from a small-scale adaptive optics brass-board.

Principles Of Adaptive Optics

Principles Of Adaptive Optics
Author: Robert Tyson
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 311
Release: 2012-12-02
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0323156592

Principles of Adaptive Optics covers the basic principles of optics, wavefront sensing, controls, and wavefront correction that encompass the specialized field called adaptive optics. This book is composed of eight chapters that summarize the fundamental technology developments and the basic understanding of the various disciplines used in adaptive optics. After briefly reviewing the history, background, and developments of adaptive optics, this book goes on discussing the many sources of phase aberrations addressed by adaptive optics systems, such as linear effects due to turbulence, optical manufacturing, and misalignments, as well as errors that result from nonlinear thermal effects and fluid properties. The subsequent chapter deals with the performance enhancing role of adaptive optics systems in various disturbances. Other chapters describe the wavefront sampling, sensing, and correction subsystems. The concluding chapters explore the fundamental principles behind the adaptive optics control system and present summary expressions to determine the basic system parameters of an adaptive optics atmospheric compensation system. Communication scientists and engineers will find this work invaluable.

Introduction to Wavefront Sensors

Introduction to Wavefront Sensors
Author: Joseph M. Geary
Publisher: SPIE Press
Total Pages: 188
Release: 1995
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780819417015

This is a practical book on wavefront sensing. Emphasis is on principles and techniques, rather than detailed mathematical analysis of such systems. The goal is to provide the reader with a qualitative understanding of wavefront sensor operation.

Adaptive Optics for Astronomical Telescopes

Adaptive Optics for Astronomical Telescopes
Author: John W. Hardy
Publisher: Oxford Optical and Imaging Sci
Total Pages: 452
Release: 1998
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780195090192

This book by one of the leaders in adaptive optics covers the fundamental theory and then describes in detail how this technology can be applied to large ground-based telescopes to compensate for the effects of atmospheric turbulence. It includes information on basic adaptive optics components and technology, and has chapters devoted to atmospheric turbulence, optical image structure, laser beacons, and overall system design. The chapter on system design is particularly detailed and includes performance estimation and optimization. Combining a clear discussion of physical principles with numerous real-world examples, this book will be a valuable resource for all graduate students and researchers in astronomy and optics.