METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE SPATIAL RESOLUTION IN AN INTEGRATED ADAPTIVE OPTICS APPARATUS

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for correcting wavefront errors in adaptive optics systems. A modified liquid crystal light valve is used as an integrated wavefront sensing and wavefront control system. A remote reference aberrated wavefront 10 first reflects off the liquid crystal substrate 20 and is then transferred by beam-splitters 14 and 15a, b and reflector 19 to the rear surface ofo the liquid crystal light valve 12. A one-to-one imaging system composed of lenses 70a, b and spatial filter 72 provide a new diffraction-limited optical transfer system which allows full use of the extremely high resolution capabilities of the liquid crystal light valve 12. The wavefront 10, after being imaged by the optical transfer system, is combined with a local reference plane 16, the interference pattern from which strikes the rear surface photoconductor 26. The photoconductor electrons liberated serve to alter the voltage across the liquid crystal at those points where the interference pattern has right maxima. Using a tunable birefringent liquid crystal layer 20, a voltage change causes a commensurate refractive index change in the liquid crystal substrate. These refractive index changes alter the optical path length of particular portions of the aberrated wavefront and the device's inherent negative feedback drives these phase errors to zero, at which point the wavefront 18 is completely corrected. A second laser beam 11 may be sent out of the device, reflecting off the corrective liquid crystal layer and predistorting it in order to correct for atmospheric path disturbances. The present invention provides an adaptive optics correction system possessing extraordinarily high spatial resolution.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1DAVID M. PEPPER

Sensitive facility: El Segundo CA (Aerospace Corp/TRW)

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