Basic system design of a broad-band real-time phase contrast wavefront sensor for adaptive optics

E. E. Bloemhof; J. K. Wallace

doi:10.1117/12.618033

6 October 2005 Basic system design of a broad-band real-time phase contrast wavefront sensor for adaptive optics

E. E. Bloemhof, J. K. Wallace

Proceedings Volume 5903, Astronomical Adaptive Optics Systems and Applications II; 59030Y (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.618033
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The most common wavefront sensor for real-time use in high-order adaptive optics systems is the Shack-Hartmann, in part because it is sensitive to a broad optical band. An alternative possibility is based on Zernike's phase contrast technique. Though quite sensitive in principle, at least for monochromatic light, there had been no simple way to obtain the broadband performance needed for competitive sensitivity in an actual adaptive optics system. Recently, we proposed a general achromatization scheme that relies upon the innate π/2 phase shift between the transmitted and reflected beams in a beam splitter. Here, a more detailed study of this broad-band phase contrast wavefront sensor is presented, along with some practical issues concerning component tolerances. These results offer encouraging indications that broad-wavelength-band implementations will be feasible in practice.

Citation Download Citation

E. E. Bloemhof and J. K. Wallace "Basic system design of a broad-band real-time phase contrast wavefront sensor for adaptive optics", Proc. SPIE 5903, Astronomical Adaptive Optics Systems and Applications II, 59030Y (6 October 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.618033

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