We have created a new autonomous (computer-free) adaptive optics system using holographic modal wavefront sensing and closed-loop control of a MEMS deformable mirror (DM). A multiplexed hologram is recorded using the maximum and minimum actuator positions on the deformable mirror as the "modes". On reconstruction, an input beam is diffracted into pairs of focal spots and the ratio of the intensities of certain pairs determines the absolute wavefront phase at a particular actuator location. We present the results from an ultra-compact, 32-actuator prototype device operating at 100 kHz. It is largely insensitive to obscuration and has a speed independent of the number of actuators.

Date Published: 3 June 2013
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 8744, Automatic Target Recognition XXIII, 87440Y (3 June 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2015900

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8744:
Automatic Target Recognition XXIII
Firooz A. Sadjadi; Abhijit Mahalanobis, Editor(s)