Standard methods for improved imaging system performance under degrading optical turbulence conditions typically involve active adaptive techniques or post-capture image processing. Here, passive adaptive methods are considered where active sources are disallowed, a priori. Theoretical analyses of short-exposure turbulence impacts indicate that varying aperture sizes experience different degrees of turbulence impacts. Smaller apertures often outperform larger aperture systems as turbulence strength increases. This suggests a controllable aperture system is advantageous. In addition, sub-aperture sampling of a set of training images permits the system to sense tilts in different sub-aperture regions through image acquisition and image cross-correlation calculations. A four sub-aperture pattern supports corrections involving five realizable operating modes (beyond tip and tilt) for removing aberrations over an annular pattern. Progress to date will be discussed regarding development and field trials of a prototype system.

Date Published: 13 May 2016
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 9833, Atmospheric Propagation XIII, 98330B (13 May 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2225114

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9833:
Atmospheric Propagation XIII
Linda M. Thomas; Earl J. Spillar, Editor(s)