Comparison of cooperative and non-cooperative adaptive optics reference performance for propagation with thermal blooming effects

Brian E. Edwards; Arthur Nitkowski; Ryan Lawrence; Kasey Horton; Charles Higgs

doi:10.1117/12.565159

18 October 2004 Comparison of cooperative and non-cooperative adaptive optics reference performance for propagation with thermal blooming effects

Brian E. Edwards, Arthur Nitkowski, Ryan Lawrence, Kasey Horton, Charles Higgs

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5552, Target-in-the-Loop: Atmospheric Tracking, Imaging, and Compensation; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.565159
Event: Optical Science and Technology, the SPIE 49th Annual Meeting, 2004, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

Atmospheric turbulence and laser-induced thermal blooming effects can degrade the beam quality of a high-energy laser (HEL) weapon, and ultimately limit the amount of energy deliverable to a target. Lincoln Laboratory has built a thermal blooming laboratory capable of emulating atmospheric thermal blooming and turbulence effects for tactical HEL systems. The HEL weapon emulation hardware includes an adaptive optics beam delivery system, which utilizes a Shack-Hartman wavefront sensor and a 349 actuator deformable mirror. For this experiment, the laboratory was configured to emulate an engagement scenario consisting of sea skimming target approaching directly toward the HEL weapon at a range of 10km. The weapon utilizes a 1.5m aperture and radiates at a 1.62 micron wavelength. An adaptive optics reference beam was provided as either a point source located at the target (cooperative) or a projected point source reflected from the target (uncooperative). Performance of the adaptive optics system was then compared between reference sources. Results show that, for operating conditions with a thermal blooming distortion number of 75 and weak turbulence (Rytov of 0.02 and D/ro of 3), cooperative beacon AO correction experiences Phase Compensation Instability, resulting in lower performance than a simple, open-loop condition. The uncooperative beacon resulted in slightly better performance than the open-loop condition.

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Brian E. Edwards, Arthur Nitkowski, Ryan Lawrence, Kasey Horton, and Charles Higgs "Comparison of cooperative and non-cooperative adaptive optics reference performance for propagation with thermal blooming effects", Proc. SPIE 5552, Target-in-the-Loop: Atmospheric Tracking, Imaging, and Compensation, (18 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.565159

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KEYWORDS

Thermal blooming

Adaptive optics

Thermal effects

Turbulence

Atmospheric propagation

Weapons

Absorption

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