Image processing techniques for measuring wavefront distortion of a laser beam

In this paper, we studied image processing techniques for the fast measurement of wavefront with high measuring resolution. We investigated the relation between the measurement resolution and the measurement speed by using several measuring techniques of wavefront. And then, we decided on optimum conditions of signal processors for a wavefront measuring device using a Shack-Hartmann sensor and proposed an estimated weighting factor to rapidly calculate wavefront with a high measuring resolution. We designed an adaptive optics system using a Shack-Hartmann sensor to measure and correct wavefront distortions of a laser beam. We tested several wavefront measuring techniques including our proposed algorithm. From the experimental results, the proposed signal processing techniques provided fast measurement results with high measuring resolution.