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Wavefront Curvature Sensing From Image Projections, Jonathan C. Buffington
Wavefront Curvature Sensing From Image Projections, Jonathan C. Buffington
Theses and Dissertations
This research outlines the development and simulation of a signal processing approach to real time wavefront curvature sensing in adaptive optics. The signal processing approach combines vectorized Charge Coupled Device (CCD) read out with a wavefront modal estimation technique. The wavefront sensing algorithm analyzes vector projections of image intensity data to provide an estimate of the wavefront phase as a combination of several low order Zernike polynomial modes. This wavefront sensor design expands on an existing idea for vector based tilt sensing by providing the ability to compensate for additional modes. Under the proposed wavefront sensing approach, the physical wavefront …
Multi-Dimensional Wave Front Sensing Algorithms For Embedded Tracking And Adaptive Optics Applications, Christopher C. Wood
Multi-Dimensional Wave Front Sensing Algorithms For Embedded Tracking And Adaptive Optics Applications, Christopher C. Wood
Theses and Dissertations
Current tracking and adaptive optics techniques cannot compensate for fast-moving extended objects, which is important for ground-based telescopes providing space situational awareness. To fill this need, a vector-projection maximum-likelihood wave-front sensing algorithm development and testing follows for this application. A derivation and simplification of the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound for wavefront sensing using a laser guide star bounds the performance of these systems and guides implementation of a vastly optimized maximum-likelihood search algorithm. A complete analysis of the bias, mean square error, and variance of the algorithm demonstrates exceptional performance of the new sensor. A proof of concept implementation shows feasibility …