Conventional Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensor Research Articles

Shack–Hartmann Wavefront Sensing Based on Four-Quadrant Binary Phase Modulation

Aiming at the problem that it is difficult for the conventional Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor to achieve high-precision wavefront reconstruction with low spatial sampling, a kind of Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensing technology based on four-quadrant binary phase modulation is proposed in this paper. By introducing four-quadrant binary phase modulation into each subaperture, the technology is able to use an optimization algorithm to reconstruct wavefronts with high precision. The feasibility and effectiveness of this method are verified at extreme low spatial frequency by a series of numerical simulations, which show that the proposed method can reliably reconstruct wavefronts with high accuracy with rather low spatial sampling. In addition, the experiment demonstrates that with a 2 × 2 microlens array, the four-quadrant binary phase-modulated Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor is able to achieve approximately 54% reduction in wavefront reconstitution error over the conventional Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor.

Deep learning assisted Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor for direct wavefront detection.

The conventional Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS) requires wavefront slope measurements of every micro-lens for wavefront reconstruction. In this Letter, we applied deep learning on the SHWS to directly predict the wavefront distributions without wavefront slope measurements. The results show that our method could provide a lower root mean square wavefront error in high detection speed. The performance of the proposed method is also evaluated on challenging wavefronts, while the conventional approaches perform insufficiently. This Letter provides a new approach, to the best of our knowledge, to perform direct wavefront detection in SHWS-based applications.

Projected Pupil Plane Pattern: an alternative LGS wavefront sensing technique

We have analysed and simulated a novel alternative Laser Guide Star (LGS) configuration termed Projected Pupil Plane Pattern (PPPP), including wavefront sensing and the reconstruction method. A key advantage of this method is that a collimated beam is launched through the telescope primary mirror, therefore the wavefront measurements do not suffer from the effects of focal anisoplanatism. A detailed simulation including the upward wave optics propagation, return path imaging, and linearized wavefront reconstruction has been presented. The conclusions that we draw from the simulation include the optimum pixel number across the pupilN = 32, the optimum number of Zernike modes (which is 78), propagation altitudes h1 = 10 km and h2 = 20 km for Rayleigh scattered returns, and the choice for the laser beam modulation (Gaussian beam). We also investigate the effects of turbulence profiles with multiple layers and find that it does not reduce PPPP performance as long as the turbulence layers are below h1. A signal-to-noise ratio analysis has been given when photon and read noise are introduced. Finally, we compare the PPPP performance with a conventional Shack–Hartmann Wavefront Sensor in an open loop, using Rayleigh LGS or sodium LGS, for 4-m and 10-m telescopes, respectively. For this purpose, we use a full Monte Carlo end-to-end AO simulation tool, Soapy. From these results, we confirm that PPPP does not suffer from focus anisoplanatism.

Noise removal in Shack-hartamnn wavefront sensor based on nonconvex weighted adaptively regularization

Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWFS) is widely used to measure the wavefront aberrations in adaptive optics system. However, a conventional SHWFS has finite accuracy depending on the noises. The removal methods of additive noise in SH WFS have been analyzed. We put forward a new variation model to solve this problem. In this model, a nonconvex weighted regularization is used in which the regularization parameters can change adaptively according to the noise level. We present the advantages of this model in detail. The split Bregman algorithm and the augmented Lagrangian duality algorithm are used to resolve this nonconvex problem. The experiments results show that the subaperture focal plane spots are well preserved. The visual and quantitative evaluation including the peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and the centroid detecting error are also shown the effective of our method in removing the additive noise in the adaptive optics system.

In-vivo digital wavefront sensing using swept source OCT.

Sub-aperture based digital adaptive optics is demonstrated in a fiber based point scanning optical coherence tomography system using a 1060 nm swept source laser. To detect optical aberrations in-vivo, a small lateral field of view of ~[Formula: see text] is scanned on the sample at a high volume rate of 17 Hz (~1.3 kHz B-scan rate) to avoid any significant lateral and axial motion of the sample, and is used as a "guide star" for the sub-aperture based DAO. The proof of principle is demonstrated using a micro-beads phantom sample, wherein a significant root mean square wavefront error (RMS WFE) of 1.48 waves (> 1[Formula: see text]) is detected. In-vivo aberration measurement with a RMS WFE of 0.33 waves, which is ~5 times higher than the Marechal's criterion of [Formula: see text] waves for the diffraction limited performance, is shown for a human retinal OCT. Attempt has been made to validate the experimental results with the conventional Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor within reasonable limitations.

Plenoptic mapping for imaging and retrieval of the complex field amplitude of a laser beam.

The plenoptic sensor has been developed to sample complicated beam distortions produced by turbulence in the low atmosphere (deep turbulence or strong turbulence) with high density data samples. In contrast with the conventional Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, which utilizes all the pixels under each lenslet of a micro-lens array (MLA) to obtain one data sample indicating sub-aperture phase gradient and photon intensity, the plenoptic sensor uses each illuminated pixel (with significant pixel value) under each MLA lenslet as a data point for local phase gradient and intensity. To characterize the working principle of a plenoptic sensor, we propose the concept of plenoptic mapping and its inverse mapping to describe the imaging and reconstruction process respectively. As a result, we show that the plenoptic mapping is an efficient method to image and reconstruct the complex field amplitude of an incident beam with just one image. With a proof of concept experiment, we show that adaptive optics (AO) phase correction can be instantaneously achieved without going through a phase reconstruction process under the concept of plenoptic mapping. The plenoptic mapping technology has high potential for applications in imaging, free space optical (FSO) communication and directed energy (DE) where atmospheric turbulence distortion needs to be compensated.

Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor with large dynamic range by adaptive spot search method.

A Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWFS) that consists of a microlens array and an image sensor has been used to measure the wavefront aberrations of human eyes. However, a conventional SHWFS has finite dynamic range depending on the diameter of the each microlens. The dynamic range cannot be easily expanded without a decrease of the spatial resolution. In this study, an adaptive spot search method to expand the dynamic range of an SHWFS is proposed. In the proposed method, spots are searched with the help of their approximate displacements measured with low spatial resolution and large dynamic range. By the proposed method, a wavefront can be correctly measured even if the spot is beyond the detection area. The adaptive spot search method is realized by using the special microlens array that generates both spots and discriminable patterns. The proposed method enables expanding the dynamic range of an SHWFS with a single shot and short processing time. The performance of the proposed method is compared with that of a conventional SHWFS by optical experiments. Furthermore, the dynamic range of the proposed method is quantitatively evaluated by numerical simulations.

Modified Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor using an array of superresolution pupil filters

A conventional Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor works with an array of lenslets which produces an array of focal spots in the back focal plane of the lenses. The displacements of the focal spots from a reference position give a measure of the mean local wavefront slopes. To determine the positions of the focal spots, centroiding algorithms have to be used. In this work, the use of superresolution pupil filters to reduce the size of the focal spots is analyzed, as well as its effect on the variance of the centroid estimate, seeking for an enhancing of the sensor accuracy.

Target-in-the-loop wavefront sensing and control with a Collett-Wolf beacon: speckle-average phase conjugation

Adaptive optical systems for laser beam projection onto an extended target embedded in an optically inhomogeneous medium are considered. A new adaptive optics wavefront control technique--speckle-average (SA) phase conjugation--is introduced. In this technique mitigation of speckle effects related to laser beam scattering off the rough target surface is achieved by measuring the SA wavefront slopes of the target return wave using a conventional Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. For statistically representative speckle averaging we consider the generation of an incoherent light source, referred to here as a Collett-Wolf beacon, directly on the target surface using a rapid steering (scanning) auxiliary laser beam. Our numerical simulations and experiment show that control of the outgoing beam phase using SA phase conjugation can lead to efficient compensation of turbulence effects and results in an increase of the projected laser beam power density on a remote extended target. The impact of both target anisoplanatism and the Collett-Wolf beacon size on adaptive system performance is studied.

Shack-Hartmann sensor based on a cylindrical microlens array

We present a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS) based on a cylindrical microlens array as a device for measuring highly aberrated wavefronts. Instead of the typical spot pattern created by a conventional SHWS, two orthogonal line patterns are detected on a CCD and are superimposed. A processing algorithm uses the continuity of the focal line to extend the dynamic range of measurement by localizing the line, even if it leaves the CCD area confined by the corresponding microcylinder. The measurement of a wavefront from a progressive addition lens with an 80 lambda peak-to-valley value reveals the capabilities of the sensor.

Large-dynamic-range Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor for highly aberrated eyes

A conventional Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor has a limitation that increasing the dynamic range usually requires sacrificing measurement sensitivity. The prototype large-dynamic-range Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor presented resolves this problem by using a translatable plate with subapertures placed in conjugate with the lenslet array. Each subaperture is the same size as a lenslet and they are arranged so that they overlap every other lenslet position. Three translations of the plate are required to acquire four images to complete one measurement. This method increases the dynamic range by a factor of two with no subsequent change in measurement sensitivity and sampling resolution of the aberration. The feasibility of the sensor was demonstrated by measuring the higher order aberrations of a custom-made phase plate and human eyes with and without the plate.

Sorting method to extend the dynamic range of the Shack–Hartmann wave-front sensor

We propose a simple and powerful algorithm to extend the dynamic range of a Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor. In a conventional Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor the dynamic range is limited by the f-number of a lenslet, because the focal spot is required to remain in the area confined by the single lenslet. The sorting method proposed here eliminates such a limitation and extends the dynamic range by tagging each spot in a special sequence. Since the sorting method is a simple algorithm that does not change the measurement configuration, there is no requirement for extra hardware, multiple measurements, or complicated algorithms. We not only present the theory and a calculation example of the sorting method but also actually implement measurement of a highly aberrated wave front from nonrotational symmetric optics.

Reconfigurable Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor

The conventional Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SH-WFS) has a fixed subaperture area that is determined by consideration of several parameters such as the average atmospheric coherence diameter r 0 at the telescope site. Its SNR can be severely degraded due to low-light conditions caused by increasing turbulence, strong atmospheric scintillation, or simply viewing a faint object. Typically, the integration time of the sensor is increased to improve the SNR. Unfortunately, a decrease in bandwidth causes an increase in residual wavefront error that reduces image quality. We show that an increase in subaperture area produces a smaller residual wavefront error than an equivalent increase in integration time. Furthermore, we show that the ability to reconfigure the subaperture area, in combination with control bandwidth adjustment, provides superior performance over a system with fixed subaperture area when r 0 is different than the design point. We present a reconfigurable Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (RSH-WFS) with adjustable subaperture area implemented using a phase-modulated liquid crystal device (LCD). Experimental results demonstrate that the RSH-WFS increases system dynamic range by increasing the subaperture diameter whenever the Hartmann spot irradiance falls below the threshold of operation of the conventional SH-WFS.

Experimental results for expanding the dynamic range of a Shack-Hartmann sensor using astigmatic microlenses

A conventional Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor cannot be used for the measurement of wavefronts with steep slopes if the spots leave their respective subapertures. In an earlier paper [N. Lindlein, J. Pfund, and J. Schwider, ''Expansion of the dynamic range of a Shack- Hartmann sensor by using astigmatic microlenses, Opt. Eng. 39(8), 2220-2225 (2000)], we described a method to expand the dynamic range of a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor by marking the spots using astigmatic microlenses. We present experimental results for this method and describe how this special sensor can be interpreted as a combination of several Shack-Hartmann sensors with enlarged subapertures.