Adaptive optics with advanced phase-contrast techniques. I. High-resolution wave-front sensing.
High-resolution phase-contrast wave-front sensors based on phase spatial light modulators and micromirror/ liquid-crystal arrays are introduced. Wave-front sensor performance is analyzed for atmospheric-turbulence-induced phase distortions described by the Kolmogorov and the Andrews models. A high-resolution phase-contrast wave-front sensor (nonlinear Zernike filter) based on an optically controlled liquid-crystal phase spatial light modulator is experimentally demonstrated. The results demonstrate high-resolution visualization of dynamically changing phase distortions within the sensor time response of approximately 10 ms.
Vorontsov
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Intelligent Optics Laboratory, US Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, Maryland 20783, USA. mvorontsov@arl.army.mil
Justh
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Beresnev
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