Adaptive Controls for Aero-Optics Compensation

MZA proposes to conduct laboratory testing of adaptive control for wavefront compensation of aerodynamic optical disturbances. The laboratory system will use a low-cost polymer deformable mirror with actuator patterns specialized for adaptive control. Aero-optical disturbances will be imparted in the laboratory by a liquid crystal spatial light modulator using wind tunnel measurements. A Hartmann wavefront sensor and scoring camera will be operated in scaled real-time using a WaveTrain-Lab controller. Performance comparisons will be made between the adaptive control algorithm and a conventional control method. Laboratory build-up and initial compensation tests will occur in the first year of the effort. Performance characterizations and optimizations will be conducted during the second year. MZA also proposes to conduct wave-optics simulations of the adaptive controller applied to candidate laser directed energy systems to determine the performance benefit offered by advanced adaptive optics control.