Wavefront sensing with a brightest pixel selection algorithm

TL;DR

This paper introduces a brightest pixel selection algorithm for wavefront sensing in open-loop adaptive optics systems, addressing non-linearities and control issues to improve measurement accuracy and computational efficiency.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel brightest pixel selection method for wavefront sensors, enhancing open-loop AO system performance by mitigating non-linearities and improving efficiency.

Findings

Improved wavefront measurement accuracy in open-loop systems

Reduced non-linearities in deformable mirror control

Enhanced computational efficiency for wavefront sensing

Abstract

Astronomical adaptive optics systems with open-loop deformable mirror control have recently come on-line. In these systems, the deformable mirror surface is not included in the wavefront sensor paths, and so changes made to the deformable mirror are not fed back to the wavefront sensors. This gives rise to all sorts of linearity and control issues mainly centred on one question: Has the mirror taken the shape requested? Non-linearities in wavefront measurement and in the deformable mirror shape can lead to significant deviations in mirror shape from the requested shape. Here, wavefront sensor measurements made using a brightest pixel selection method are discussed along with the implications that this has for open-loop AO systems. Discussion includes elongated laser guide star spots and also computational efficiency.