Open AccessEmulation of dynamic wavefront disturbances using a deformable mirror
Author(s) -
Ross A. Conrad,
Williams E. Wilcox,
Timothy H. Williams,
Steven Michael,
Jeffrey M. Roth
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.003447
Subject(s) - optics , deformable mirror , jitter , wavefront , testbed , free space optical communication , boundary layer , adaptive optics , emulation , cardinal point , computer science , physics , laser , telecommunications , economics , computer network , thermodynamics , economic growth
Boundary-layer turbulence resulting from uneven airflow around window interfaces can impact airborne laser communications (lasercom). In the focal plane, these distortions can produce fast jitter and beam break-up, posing challenges for tracking and communications. We demonstrate an experimental emulator that reproduces aircraft aero-optical distortions using a deformable mirror. This boundary-layer emulator resides in a hardware testbed that experimentally mimics air-to-space lasercom links in a controlled, laboratory environment. The boundary-layer emulator operates in the 1.55-mum band and accurately recreates aero-optical distortions at a rate of 2 kilo-frames per second.