SBIR-STTR Award

This work researchs the use of a novel, patented Moire fringe wavefront sensor for fast, high density wavefront correction in an adaptive optics system. Based around existing technology for lightweight, durable and inexpensive membrane deformable mirrors already under development at Intellite (in transition to AgilOptics in 2005), this innovative adaptive optical system with a fast optical computer Moire wavefront sensor, will operate at speeds up to 500Hz and have the ability to remove most of the atmospheric distortions in military optical systems. The system should be very lightweight, rugged, require minimal computer processing and very conservative operating power.

Keywords:
MOIRE FRINGE WAVEFRONT SENSOR, ADAPTIVE OPTICS, MEMBRANE DEFORMABLE MIRRORS, ACTIVE OPTICAL SYSTEMS, WAVEFRONT SENSORS, OPTICAL COMPUTERS

AgilOptics’ Phase I SBIR proposed the development of a moire¢ Wave-Front Sensor (MWFS) test-bed to evaluate the MWFS design developed and patented by the University of New Mexico (UNM) and to extend the design for use in a closed-loop Adaptive Optic (AO) system with a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Deformable Mirror (DM) corrector. Our Phase I results have shown that the MWFS provides intensity measurements of wavefront curvature that, when calibrated, can be used to directly drive the actuators of a MEMS DM (with linear analog control) to correct wavefront aberrations. The MWFS measurement process essentially acts like an optical computer, linearizing the calculation of DM actuator commands for wavefront correction. The goals of the proposed Phase II effort are first to demonstrate closed-loop wavefront control using the MWFS to directly control MEMS DM correction and second to design, fabricate, test, and deliver a field-able AO system based on this technology.

Keywords:
MEMS, deformable mirror, adaptive optics, moiré deflectometry, wavefront correction