Focal plane wave-front sensing algorithm for high-contrast imaging

High-contrast imaging provided by a coronagraph is critical for the direction imaging of the Earth-like planet orbiting its bright parent star. A major limitation for such direct imaging is the speckle noise that is induced from the wave-front error of an optical system. We derive an algorithm for the wave-front measurement directly from 3 focal plane images. The 3 images are achieved through a deformable mirror to provide specific phases for the optics system. We introduce an extra amplitude modulation on one deformable mirror configuration to create an uncorrelated wave-front, which is a critical procedure for wave-front sensing. The simulation shows that the reconstructed wave-front is consistent with the original wave-front theoretically, which indicates that such an algorithm is a promising technique for the wave-front measurement for the high-contrast imaging. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10873024)     

Order-N sparse minimum-variance open-loop reconstructor for extreme adaptive optics

A scalable sparse minimum-variance open-loop wave-front reconstructor for extreme adaptive optics (ExAO) systems is presented. The reconstructor is based on Ellerbroek's sparse approximation of the wave-front inverse covariance matrix [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 19, 1803 (2002)]. The baseline of the numerical approach is an iterative conjugate gradient (CG) algorithm for reconstructing a spatially sampled wave front at N grid points on a computational domain of size equal to the telescope's primary mirror's diameter D that uses a multigrid (MG) accelerator to speed up convergence efficiently and enhance its robustness. The combined MGCG scheme is order N and requires only two CG iterations to converge to the asymptotic average Strehl ratio (SR) and root-mean-square reconstruction error. The SR and reconstruction squared error are within standard deviation with figures obtained from a previously proposed MGCG fast-Fourier-transform based minimum-variance reconstructor that incorporates the exact wave-front inverse covariance matrix on a computational domain of size equal to 2D. A cost comparison between the present sparse MGCG algorithm and a Cholesky factorization based algorithm that uses a reordering scheme to preserve sparsity indicates that the latter method is still competitive for real-time ExAO wave-front reconstruction for systems with up to N approximately equal to 10(4) degrees of freedom because the update rate of the Cholesky factor is typically several orders of magnitude lower than the temporal sampling rate.     

Adaptive wave-front correction by means of all-optical feedback interferometry

A novel adaptive wave-front correction system based on an all-optical feedback interferometer is described. In this system the two-dimensional output fringe intensity from a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with large radial shear is optically fed back to an optically addressed phase-only liquid-crystal spatial light modulator. Consequently, without a separate aberration-free reference wave, the modulator phase approximates the conjugate of the interferometer phase that is directly related to the phase of the input aberrated wave front, so this system is applicable in adaptive optics. We successfully achieved real-time correction of aberrated wave fronts: A diffraction pattern that was seriously distorted because of aberrations was transformed into a diffraction-limited spot immediately after the feedback loop was closed.     

Dynamic range expansion of a Shack-Hartmann sensor by use of a modified unwrapping algorithm

An algorithm for expanding the dynamic range of Shack--Hartmann sensors is proposed. The distribution of the spot dislocations is treated with a modified unwrapping algorithm that is widely used in interferometry. The algorithm unwraps the spot dislocations and assigns the spots to their original subapertures, leading to a huge expansion of the dynamic range. For the proposed algorithm there remains a limitation on the maximum wave-front curvature instead of on the maximum wave-front slope. Examples are given that show spot fields that were wrapped four times; the measured wave front had a peak-to-valley value of 116 lambda .     

Generalized phase diversity for wave-front sensing

Phase diversity is a phase-retrieval algorithm that uses a pair of intensity images taken symmetrically about the wave front to be determined. If these images are taken about the system input pupil this is equivalent to a curvature-sensing algorithm. Traditionally a defocus aberration kernel is used to produce the phase-diverse data. We present a generalization of this method to allow the use of other functions as the diversity kernel. We discuss the necessary and sufficient conditions that such a function must satisfy for use in a null wave-front sensor. Computer simulations were used to validate these results.     

Hartmann wave-front scanner

A wave-front sensor is described that uses a programmable moving aperture to scan an incoming wave front. The position of the diffraction spot is recorded behind an objective lens with a two-dimensional sensor and gives an estimate of the local slope at the aperture position. Then the wave front is reconstructed by processing of the slope data. The device is basically a programmable Hartmann wave-front sensor. Compared with a microlens Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor, its much longer focal length provides higher resolution, although real-time operation is lost. A practical implementation of the new scanner with a liquid-crystal television as the programmable aperture is presented.     

Closed-loop aberration correction by use of a modal Zernike wave-front sensor

We describe the practical implementation of a closed-loop adaptive-optics system incorporating a novel modal wave-front sensor. The sensor consists of a static binary-phase computer-generated holographic element, which generates a pattern of spots in a detector plane. Intensity differences between symmetric pairs of these spots give a direct measure of the Zernike mode amplitudes that are present in the input wave front. We use a ferroelectric liquid-crystal spatial light modulator in conjunction with a 4-f system and a spatial filter as a wave-front correction element. We present results showing a rapid increase in Strehl ratio and focal spot quality as the system corrects for deliberately introduced aberrations.     

Brillouin-enhanced four-wave-mixing vector phase-conjugate mirror with beam-combining capability

It is often desirable to remove both wave front and polarization aberrations from an optical beam. Scalar phase conjugation, such as ordinary stimulated Brillouin scattering, can correct only for wave-front aberrations. We have developed a new geometry for Brillouin-enhanced four-wave mixing that performs vector phase conjugation to correct for both wave-front and polarization distortions. Results show a reduction in the depolarization losses from 50% to less than 2% of the total output energy. Coherent, variable, multiple-beam combination is achieved without need of nonreciprocal devices such as Faraday rotators.     

彩色数字全息的非插值波面重建算法研究

彩色数字全息及多波长照明的数字全息检测研究中,避免插值误差的可变放大率波面重建是一个重要的研究内容.由于Fresnel衍射积分可以表示成Fourier变换及卷积两种形式,对应地存在两种波面重建算法：其一,将重建距离分为两段的衍射“接力”算法;其二,用球面波为重建波的卷积算法.文中对这两种算法进行理论分析及实验研究,讨论让重建计算满足取样定理的条件.结果表明,卷积算法较容易满足取样定理,能够获得较好的重建物光场. 关键词： 彩色数字全息 波面重建 衍射计算     

彩色数字全息的非插值波面重建算法研究

彩色数字全息及多波长照明的数字全息检测研究中,避免插值误差的可变放大率波面重建是一个重要的研究内容.由于Fresnel衍射积分可以表示成Fourier变换及卷积两种形式,对应地存在两种波面重建算法：其一,将重建距离分为两段的衍射“接力”算法;其二,用球面波为重建波的卷积算法.文中对这两种算法进行理论分析及实验研究,讨论让重建计算满足取样定理的条件.结果表明,卷积算法较容易满足取样定理,能够获得较好的重建物光场.     

Wave-front sensing with time-of-flight phase diversity

We present a new way to sense atmospheric wave-front phase distortion. Short collimated pulses of laser light at ~350nm are projected from a small auxilliary telescope. Rayleigh scattering from each pulse is recorded over a wide range of height through the main telescope aperture in a continuous sequence of fast video frames by a detector conjugate to mid-height. Phase diversity is thus naturally introduced as the pulses approach and pass through focus. We show that an iterative algorithm can extract the phase structure from the recorded images and do so with a much higher signal-to-noise ratio than is possible with existing techniques. If the requirements for real-time data recording and reduction can be met, the new method will address the need for tomographic wave-front sensing at planned 30-m-class telescopes.     

Validity of wave-front reconstruction and propagation of ultrabroadband pulses measured with a Hartmann-Shack sensor

Wave-front reconstruction for ultrabroadband laser pulses is verified by use of a Hartmann-Shack sensor. We estimate the accuracy of numerical wave-front propagation by comparing numerical with experimental results and verify that wave fronts of ultrabroadband laser pulses from a hollow fiber can be propagated correctly by a single polychromatic wave-front measurement to a place where detection is not practicable, e.g., inside a vacuum chamber or laser focus.     

Harnessing caustics for wave-front sensing

Scintillation in measured wave fronts adds spurious dislocations and deformations to their reconstruction. The source of the problem is caustics formed by aberrations in intermediate planes. I propose to use intentional caustics to measure wave fronts under severe conditions such as low light level, fast scale variations, large aberrations, and discontinuities in the wave front. A simple realization is based on the Hartmann-Shack sensor, which samples the wave front with a lenslet array. Movement of the lenslets' foci is linear with slope changes. Here the lenslets are effectively formed in an acousto-optic device: Two standing waves are launched perpendicularly to the light beam and to each other. At some distance down the beam, each wave creates a comb of caustics, and the two orthogonal combs add up to an array of caustic spots. The spatial frequency of the array is linear with the temporal frequency of the standing sound waves. A simple Fourier demodulation scheme supplies the two wave-front gradients.     

湍流大气中高斯谢尔光束的波前位错

在Rytov近似下,通过引入短期统计平均位错位置的概念,研究了高斯谢尔光束通过近地面弱湍流大气传播时,波前圆形位错形成和位错位置与湍流大气起伏强度和传播距离等参数间的关系.基于湍流大气中平行和交叉双光束的简化近似传输模型,研究了湍流大气中传播高斯谢尔光束波前位错位置与大气湍流强度、传输距离等参数间的相关机制.在远小于光波位相起伏周期的条件下,分别得出了束径不同同轴双光束和交叉双光束传播情况下波前圆位错位置的湍流系综统计平均理论关系.所得结果表明,同轴平行光束干涉和交叉光束干涉所产生的光束波前位错受大气湍流强度、传输距离等参数调制的规律是不同的.     

起爆药爆轰场和燃烧场的干涉法显示及其图像处理

本文介绍了利用脉冲YAG激光引爆起爆药产生爆轰流场或燃烧温度场,用时间序列干涉法首次获得了爆轰流场和起始燃烧过程的时间序列干涉图的实验结果.在此基础上,采用条纹曲线检测法和双三次多结点插值样条函数从干涉图上提取爆轰场冲击波的波阵面,并通过序列波阵面配准算法,定量地计算了冲击波的传播速度.同时,还定量计算了燃烧场温度随时间变化的分布.     

Phase Retrieval of Phase-Shifting Interferometry with Iterative Least-Squares Fitting Algorithm: Experiments

We report our experimental results of phase-shifting interferometry with an iterative least-squares fitting technique to estimate both the wave front phases and the phase shifts. The method allows phase retrieval from phase-shifting interferograms even though the calibration data of the phase shifter is unknown. The algorithm is used to analyze two sets of experimental interferograms. One records by moving a piezoelectric transducer shifter randomly and therefore has embedded random phase shifter errors, and the other samples the interference movie recorded by a video recorder while driving a stepping motor and therefore has embedded random intensity noises. The results are comparable with that of the conventional M-frame algorithm. Investigation of the effects of the intensity noises and phase shift errors shows the algorithm to perform well in both. Problems such as convergence, unique solution and reliability are also discussed.     

Hartmann wave-front measurement at 13.4 nm with lambdaEUV/120 accuracy

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, experimental demonstration of wave-front analysis via the Hartmann technique in the extreme ultraviolet range. The reference wave front needed to calibrate the sensor was generated by spatially filtering a focused undulator beam with 1.7- and 0.6-microm-diameter pinholes. To fully characterize the sensor, accuracy and sensitivity measurements were performed. The incident beam's wavelength was varied from 7 to 25 nm. Measurements of accuracy better than lambdaEUV/120 (0.11 nm) were obtained at lambdaEUV = 13.4 nm. The aberrations introduced by an additional thin mirror, as well as wave front of the spatially unfiltered incident beam, were also measured.     

Closed-loop adaptive optics in the human eye

We have developed a prototype apparatus for real-time closed-loop measurement and correction of aberrations in the human eye. The apparatus uses infrared light to measure the wave-front aberration at 25 Hz with a Hartmann-Shack sensor. Defocus is removed by a motorized optometer, and higher-order aberrations are corrected by a membrane deformable mirror. The device was first tested with an artificial eye. Correction of static aberrations takes approximately five iterations, making the system capable of following aberration changes at 5 Hz. This capability allows one to track most of the aberration dynamics in the eye. Results in living eyes showed effective closed-loop correction of aberrations, with a residual uncorrected wave front of 0.1microm for a 4.3-mm pupil diameter. Retinal images of a point source in different subjects with and without adaptive correction of aberrations were estimated in real time. The results demonstrate real-time closed-loop correction of aberration in the living eye. An application of this device is as electro-optic "spectacles" to improve vision.     

大倍率离轴无焦四反光学系统设计

空间引力波探测任务采用的是外差法激光干涉测量技术,其对系统的噪声和精度要求极为苛刻。望远镜是引力波探测天文台的重要组成部分,起到激光信号收发的作用,其光学系统应具备大倍率、高像质、杂光抑制能力强,波前误差一致性好的特点。针对上述要求,对大倍率离轴四反无焦光学系统进行了设计和优化。基于初级像差理论阐述了初始结构的求解方法。系统具有中间像面和可用的实出瞳,便于杂光抑制和与后端科学干涉仪的承接。优化过程中,建立了波前一致性优化函数,通过优化设计,系统入瞳直径为200 mm,放大倍率为40倍,科学视场为±8μrad,波前误差RMS值优于0.005λ,PV值优于0.023λ(λ=1064 nm),波前一致性残差RMS值优于0.0008λ(λ=1064 nm),在捕获视场±200μrad内的成像质量均接近衍射极限,并对系统公差进行了分析,满足引力波探测的应用需求。     

自适应光学系统几种随机并行优化控制算法比较

 直接对系统性能指标进行优化是自适应光学系统中一种重要的波前畸变校正方法,选择合适的随机并行优化控制算法是该技术成功实现的关键。以32单元变形镜为校正器,基于多种随机并行优化算法建立自适应光学系统仿真模型。从算法的收敛速度、校正效果、局部极值3个方面对遗传算法、单向扰动随机并行梯度下降、双向扰动随机并行梯度下降及模拟退火算法进行了比较。仿真结果表明,遗传算法收敛速度太慢,不适用于需要实时控制的自适应光学系统;双向扰动随机并行梯度下降算法收敛速度、校正效果要优于单向扰动随机并行梯度下降,且能够适应各种情况下的扰动电压;模拟退火几乎以概率1收敛到全局极值附近,且收敛速度是上述算法中最快的。