The role of diffraction in an extended beacon laser guide star

S. Enguehard; B. Hatfield; L. Whiting

doi:10.1117/12.621105

23 August 2005 The role of diffraction in an extended beacon laser guide star

S. Enguehard, B. Hatfield, L. Whiting

Proceedings Volume 5895, Target-in-the-Loop: Atmospheric Tracking, Imaging, and Compensation II; 58950B (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.621105
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The limits to the ability of adaptive optics to achieve spatial propagation reciprocity are determined by diffraction. The beacon is a prominent component in defining the diffractive limit, so diffraction plays a role in the optimal choice of beacon parameters. We show with an explicit example that a point-source beacon is not the optimal choice, and that a point-source beacon cannot be used to measure the diffractive limit of phase-only compensation. At the single scattering level, diffraction dictates the use of an extended coherent beacon. We also show with an explicit example that optical vortices are not branch points, thus a well-defined phase reconstruction from an initially coherent beacon propagated through strong or extensive turbulence will not be hindered by the presence of optical vortices.

Citation Download Citation

S. Enguehard, B. Hatfield, and L. Whiting "The role of diffraction in an extended beacon laser guide star", Proc. SPIE 5895, Target-in-the-Loop: Atmospheric Tracking, Imaging, and Compensation II, 58950B (23 August 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.621105

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