title: Comparison of optical vortex detection methods for use with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor.
abstract: In this paper we compare experimentally two methods of detecting optical vortices from Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWFS) data, the vortex potential and the contour sum methods. The experimental setup uses a spatial light modulator (SLM) to generate turbulent fields with vortices. In the experiment, many fields are generated and detected by a SHWFS, and data is analysed by the two vortex detection methods. We conclude that the vortex potential method is more successful in locating vortices in these fields.
authors.affiliation: Applied Optics Group, School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. kevmurphy85@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dainty
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D010783:Photometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014159:Transducers