Adaptive optics system for laser-power beam forming

Michael J. LeFebvre; Grady L. Taylor; Edward Louis Cuellar; K. S. Kell; David G. Sandler

doi:10.1117/12.208205

26 April 1995 Adaptive optics system for laser power beam forming

Michael J. LeFebvre, Grady L. Taylor, Edward Louis Cuellar, K. S. Kell, David G. Sandler

Proceedings Volume 2376, Laser Power Beaming II; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.208205
Event: Photonics West '95, 1995, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

We report on the design and operation of an integrated 1 meter adaptive optics system for compensation of a visible wavelength laser for satellite beamforming applications. A visible artificial laser guide star (frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser with wavelength of 0.532 micrometers ) is used as the source for the reference wavefront. A shearing interferometer which uses a narrow optical bandwidth and has 500 subapertures is employed to sense wavefront distortion. These measurements are used to compute a conjugate wavefront to the distorted input light. The computed conjugate is then imprinted on a deformable mirror which consists of 500 square mirror segments. The deformable mirror is integrated with a 1 m Cassegrain telescope. The tracking system is designed to track and illuminate low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Computer control of both the adaptive optics and tracking systems are done via two terminals, and the entire adaptive optics/tracking system can be run by only two operators. We have used this system for both compensated imaging and compensated illumination applications. In this paper, we will present an overview of the system architecture and discuss computer control of the adaptive optics and tracking systems.

Citation Download Citation

Michael J. LeFebvre, Grady L. Taylor, Edward Louis Cuellar, K. S. Kell, and David G. Sandler "Adaptive optics system for laser power beam forming", Proc. SPIE 2376, Laser Power Beaming II, (26 April 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.208205

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