Electron density characterization by use of a broadband x-ray-compatible wave-front sensor

The use of a Hartmann wave-front sensor to accurately measure the line-integrated electron density gradients formed in laser-produced and z-pinch plasma experiments is examined. This wave-front sensor may be used with a soft-x-ray laser as well as with incoherent line emission at multikilovolt x-ray energies. This diagnostic is significantly easier to use than interferometery and moiré deflectometry, both of which have been demonstrated with soft-x-ray lasers. This scheme is experimentally demonstrated in the visible region by use of a Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor and a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator to simulate a phase profile that could occur when an x-ray probe passes through a plasma. The merits of using a Hartmann sensor include a wide dynamic range, broadband or low-coherence-length light capability, high x-ray efficiency, two-dimensional gradient determination, multiplexing capability, and experimental simplicity. Hartmann sensors could also be utilized for wavelength testing of extreme-ultraviolet lithography components and x-ray phase imaging of biological specimens.     

Nearly diffraction-limited laser focal spot obtained by use of an optically addressed light valve in an adaptive-optics loop

We demonstrate correction of laser wave-front distortions by use of an adaptive-optical technique based on a light valve. The setup consists of an achromatic and adjustable-sensitivity wave-front sensor and a wave-front corrector relying on an optically addressed liquid-crystal spatial light modulator. Experimental results with strongly aberrated beams focused close to the diffraction limit are presented for the cw regime. Additional experiments with pulses and measurement of damage thresholds show that this approach is relevant for spatial phase correction of ultraintense laser pulses.     

Adaptive-optics correction of a stellar interferometer with a single pyramid wave-front sensor

We investigate the pyramid wave-front sensor's capability to reconstruct in a closed loop, with only one sensor, the wave fronts on both apertures of a stellar interferometer, including the differential piston: The method consists of placing the principal element of this sensor, namely, a refractive-square-based pyramid, in a combined focal plane of the interferometer instead of using two sensors, one for each individual telescope. We show that the sensor signals allow one to measure the wave-front aberrations on both apertures and the differential piston at the same time. The performance of an adaptive-optics loop is computed numerically for the Large Binocular Telescope in terms of differential-piston rejection under several conditions. The results show that atmospheric correction including differential-piston compensation is possible as long as the corrected Strehl ratio at the wave-front sensing wavelength is greater than 20%.     

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.     

Linear phase retrieval for wave-front sensing

Phase retrieval from one or more intensity measurements is a potentially powerful and appealing technique for real-time adaptive-optics wave-front sensors. Under the assumption of small wave-front phase excursions, one is able to derive an exact solution to the inverse problem given three or more intensity measurements with known phase offsets. Applications include a high-order wave-front sensor to correct for residual aberrations in an adaptive-optics system in tandem with a low-resolution Hartmann-Shack wave-front sensor. The formula can also furnish mathematical insights into the full nonlinear phase-retrieval task.     

一种大型望远系统波前检测的方法

 对传统S-H波前检测方法进行了改进的基础上，设计了一套适应于大型望远系统的波前检测方案。利用五角棱镜光束转向系统形成大型望远系统各子孔径准参考光束，实现依次扫描各子孔径；并用改进的S-H波前传感器实现依次探测各子孔径的波前。理论分析证明了由五角棱镜的制造误差和运动误差引起的波前倾斜误差在微变情况下，可通过波前修正方法予以修正，可有效地再现出望远系统自身波前误差。该方案可适用于大口径望远系统的波前检测。     

用于自适应光学系统的波面传感器

本文给出了用于自适应光学系统的波面传感器的功能、要求及特性。详细分类叙述了几种典型的波面传感器。它们是:高频振动波面传感器,相位共轭波面传感器,旋转光栅剪切干涉波面传感器及S-H波面传感器。同时分析、比较了各类传感器的优缺点及适用范围。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Second-harmonic generation and wave-front correction of a terawatt laser system

By combining second-harmonic generation and wave-front correction of a hybrid Ti:sapphire-Nd:glass terawatt laser chain, we were able to generate a focused intensity above 10(19) W/cm(2), with an estimated 10(9):1 intensity contrast ratio. The frequency of the laser is doubled by use of a type I KDP crystal, and wave-front correction is achieved with a deformable mirror coupled to a wave-front sensor.     

Concept for a laser guide beacon Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor with dynamically steered subapertures

We describe an innovative implementation of the Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor that is designed to correct the perspective elongation of a laser guide beacon in adaptive optics. Subapertures are defined by the segments of a deformable mirror rather than by a conventional lenslet array. A bias tilt on each segment separates the beacon images on the sensor's detector. One removes the perspective elongation by dynamically driving each segment with a predetermined open-loop signal that would, in the absence of atmospheric wave-front aberration, keep the corresponding beacon image centered on the subaperture's optical axis.     

Eye models for the prediction of contrast vision in patients with new intraocular lens designs

Theoretical calculations of the polychromatic modulation transfer function (MTF) and wave-front aberration were performed with physiological eye models. These eye models have an amount of spherical aberration that is representative of a normal population of pseudophakic eyes implanted with two different types of intraocular lens (IOL) made from high-refractive-index silicone. These theoretical calculations were compared with the measured contrast sensitivity function (CSF) under mesopic lighting conditions and with wave-front aberration (obtained with a Hartmann-Shack wave-front sensor) collected from 37 patients bilaterally implanted with the same types of lens. The relationships between the ocular wave-front aberration and the MTF predicted by the eye models and the CSF and the ocular wave-front aberration measured in eyes implanted with IOLs were investigated. The predicted improvements in MTF and wave-front aberration correlated well with the improvements measured in practice. Physiological eye models are therefore useful tools for IOL design.     

Aberro-polariscope for the human eye

We have developed an aberro-polariscope that simultaneously measures spatially resolved polarization properties and wave-front aberration in a living human eye. The setup consists of an infrared Hartmann-Shack sensor that incorporates a polariscope. A series of four Hartmann-Shack images corresponding to independent polarization states were recorded. The corresponding wave-front aberration was computed from each image. Moreover, from each set of four images spatially resolved (over the pupil plane) parameters of polarization were also determined. This instrument allows useful information on both the optical and the biomechanical properties of the eye to be obtained.     

平行光管气流扰动的液晶自适应光学校正

利用液晶自适应光学技术,建立了一套验证系统.使用哈特曼传感器为波前探测器件,反射式的LCOS液晶器件为波前校正器件,以闭环控制校正方式工作.初步实现了波前PV值从1.02λ下降到0.37λ（λ＝633 nm）的校正准确度,成像质量明显提高.系统的调制传递函数由校正前的不到10 lp/mm提高到了校正后的超过50 lp/mm.     

一种线性相位反演波前测量方法的实验研究

 描述了基于线性相位反演算法的波前传感器的基本组成结构。在实验室内搭建了相应的演示验证实验装置,对该种新型波前测量方法的特性进行了实验研究。实验计算结果表明：这种根据入射全孔径远场光斑强度分布直接反演出入射波前相位的线性相位反演新方法原理是可行的。只需实时测量一幅焦平面图像,根据焦平面上光强分布的微小变化量与入射孔径面上的相位分布的微小变化量之间存在的近似线性关系,就可以用模式复原的原理复原出入射波前相位。传感器对于离焦,像散等像差模式都可以进行较为准确的测量,误差率都小于1。对称系统像差中存在少量的非对称像差对复原结果的准确性影响不大。     

测量噪声对波前重构精度的影响

 Hartmann-Shack波前传感器斜率测量误差是自适应光学系统中影响波前重构精度的一个主要误差来源。针对模式法波前重构算法,推导出了普遍适用的模式法波前重构误差传递系数计算公式;利用61单元自适应光学系统中的Hartmann-Shack波前传感器测量的斜率数据,验证了模式法波前重构误差传递系数计算公式的正确性。     

用于人眼视网膜成像照明的激光消散斑技术研究

以近红外激光(808 nm)作为人眼波前像差探测的信号光和视网膜成像的照明光,液晶空间光调制器(LCOS)作为波前校正器,用哈特曼波前探测器探测人眼像差,构建了人眼像差自适应校正的视网膜成像系统.利用模拟眼分析了激光散斑对相机成像的影响和对哈特曼波前探测器进行像差探测的影响,同时验证了利用旋转散射体的方法消除激光散斑的可行性和有效性;用活体人眼进行了激光消散斑前后照明视网膜进行成像的对比实验,并进一步利用自适应光学技术实现了对人眼像差的动态校正和视网膜细胞的连续成像.校正后,系统波前像差的均方根值小于0.1λ.实验表明激光消散斑后可以同时作为人眼像差探测的信号光和视网膜成像的照明光,从而可以进行连续自适应校正和成像.     

Hybrid curvature and gradient wave-front sensor

A new wave-front sensor for adaptive optics that gives signals for the curvature and the two gradient components of the wave front simultaneously is proposed. The sensor uses quad cells placed at the foci of an array of astigmatic lenslets, giving three intensity-normalized differential signals. The parameters of a single subdetector are optimized to maximize the curvature signal. The performance of such a sensor designed for a membrane curvature mirror is analyzed. The good match between sensor and mirror is exhibited by an almost diagonal response matrix between the mirror actuator controls and the curvature signals.     

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)