Binary adaptive optics: atmospheric wave-front correction with a half-wave phase shifter.
We describe a binary approach to adaptive wave-front correction, especially suitable for narrow band applications, which would be simpler than conventional adaptive technology. Appropriate parts of the aberrant wave front are phase retarded by half a wavelength to ensure that none of the image-forming rays add together destructively. Simulations for monochromatic light show that the residual wave-front errors, in the absence of other errors, would result in Strehl ratios of ~40% with diffraction-limited widths at visible wavelengths. We simulate the imaging performance of such a system and describe a possible implementation that uses a ferroelectric liquid-crystal spatial light modulator.
G D
GD
Love
N
N
Andrews
P
P
Birch
D
D
Buscher
P
P
Doel
C
C
Dunlop
J
J
Major
R
R
Myers
A
A
Purvis
R
R
Sharples
A
A
Vick
A
A
Zadrozny
S R
SR
Restaino
A
A
Glindemann