Development of an adaptive optics test-bed for relay mirror applications

Justin D. Mansell; Arturo A. Jacobs; Morris Maynard

doi:10.1117/12.617388

22 August 2005 Development of an adaptive optics test-bed for relay mirror applications

Justin D. Mansell, Arturo A. Jacobs, Morris Maynard

Proceedings Volume 5894, Advanced Wavefront Control: Methods, Devices, and Applications III; 589401 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.617388
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The relay mirror concept involves deploying a passive optical station at a high altitude for relaying a beam from a laser weapon to a target. Relay mirrors have been proposed as a method of increasing the range of laser weapons that is less costly than deploying a larger number of laser weapons. Relay mirrors will only be effective if the beam spreading and beam quality degradation induced by atmospheric aberrations and thermal blooming can be mitigated. In this paper we present the first phase of a multi-year effort to develop a theoretical and experimental capability at Boeing-SVS to study these problems. A team from MZA and Boeing-SVS has developed a laboratory test-bed consisting of a distributed atmospheric path simulated by three liquid crystal phase screens, a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, and a MEMS membrane deformable mirror. We present results of AO component calibration and evaluation, the system construction, and the system performance.

Citation Download Citation

Justin D. Mansell, Arturo A. Jacobs, and Morris Maynard "Development of an adaptive optics test-bed for relay mirror applications", Proc. SPIE 5894, Advanced Wavefront Control: Methods, Devices, and Applications III, 589401 (22 August 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.617388

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available