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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Adaptive Control Of Woofer-Tweeter Adaptive Optics, Jimmie J. Perez
Adaptive Control Of Woofer-Tweeter Adaptive Optics, Jimmie J. Perez
Theses and Dissertations
Adaptive optics applies advanced sensing and control to improve the ability of optical systems to collect images through a turbulent atmosphere. The results of this research effort demonstrate that the combination of two recent approaches improves the performance of adaptive optics in directed energy and laser communication scenarios. The first approach is adaptive control, which offers improved performance over fixed-gain controllers in the presence of rapidly changing turbulence. The second approach incorporated into the study is a dual-mirror system. The two mirrors are a high-bandwidth, low-actuator-stroke (tweeter) mirror and a low-bandwidth, large actuator-stroke (woofer) mirror. The woofer-tweeter combination allows for …
Performance-Metric Driven Atmospheric Compensation For Robust Free-Space Laser Communication, Peter N. Crabtree
Performance-Metric Driven Atmospheric Compensation For Robust Free-Space Laser Communication, Peter N. Crabtree
Theses and Dissertations
The effect of turbulence on laser propagation is a significant challenge to current electro-optical systems. While atmospheric compensation techniques in space object imaging and high-energy laser weapons have been thoroughly investigated, optimizing these techniques for Laser Communication (LaserCom) has not been examined to the same degree. Average Strehl ratio is the typical design metric for current atmospheric compensation systems. However, fade probability is the relevant metric for LaserCom. This difference motivated the investigation into metric-driven atmospheric compensation. Metric-based tracking techniques for fade mitigation is the first major focus of this research. In a moderate range air-to-air scenario, focal plane spot …
Using Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulators For Closed Loop Tracking And Beam Steering With Phase Holography, Michael J. Perry
Using Liquid Crystal Spatial Light Modulators For Closed Loop Tracking And Beam Steering With Phase Holography, Michael J. Perry
Theses and Dissertations
Optical Phased Array (OPA) technology offers advantages in the reduction of size, weight, and power of optical steering devices. Nematic liquid crystal (LC) spatial light modulators (SLMs) have been studied as a potential candidate for building non-mechanical OPAs. They can steer a laser beam and split the beam into multiple beams. This thesis builds upon the prior research showing each split beam can be individually controlled, including variation in intensity. A closed loop tracking scenario shows the flexibility of the SLM by tracking and stabilizing an incoming beam. Results show that applying a phase grating to the SLM has limitations …