ALINET: neural net automatic alignment of high energy laser resonator optical elements

A neural network approach has successfully solved the time-consuming practical problem of aligning the many optical elements used in the resonator of high-power chemical layers. Because the neural net can achieve optimal performance in only two-four steps, as compared with 50 for other techniques, the important ability to effect real-time control is gained. This represents a significant experimental breakthrough because of the difficulty previously associated with this alignment process. Use of either near- or far-field image information produces excellent performance. The method is very robust in the presence of noise. For cases where the initial misalignment falls outside the regime encompassed by the training set, a hybrid approach utilizing an advanced conventional method can bring the optical system within the capture range of the neural net