Direct amplitude detection of Zernike modes by computer-generated holographic wavefront sensor: Modeling and simulation

A fast holographic wavefront sensor is proposed using a computer-generated hologram (CGH). This CGH is a multiplexed hologram of different Zernike mode–amplitude combinations, and is designed in such a manner as to get the corresponding spots on the detector according to the presence and strength of a particular aberration. Interference between the aberrated wavefront (with a single mode–amplitude combination) and the Fourier transform of an image with single bright pixel (defined as dot image) is numerically calculated for one hologram. Different mode–amplitude combination and corresponding different positions of bright pixels (dots) are taken to compute various holograms and then all the holograms are multiplexed to get the final hologram. When the aberrated wavefront with a particular mode–amplitude combination is incident onto the multiplexed hologram, the corresponding dot is generated in the Fourier plane. A lens performs the Fourier transform in optical domain and provides the instant detection of amplitude of the respective Zernike mode. The main advantage of the scheme is to avoid the need of any computations, which makes it really fast. The simulation results are presented with the cross-talk analysis for few Zernike terms.