Adaptive Control Over Extended Targets
Abstract
Three types of adaptive optical systems are described that are being experimentally investigated. Each system is designed to be applied to high-power laser systems, to be insensitive to target effects, and to be effective in turbulence compensation. Two of the systems are multidither coherent optical adaptive techniques (COAT) and employ an imaging receiver. The imaging receivers employ 'image-plane aperture censoring techniques' or 'IMPACT' to enhance glint discrimination and, in some cases, to allow convergence on featureless target surfaces. The third system uses noncoherent light returned from the target to obtain phase corrections for a transmitted laser beam. Such systems, which may or may not use multidither techniques, are called 'TRIM-COAT' because they combine transmitting and imaging COAT concepts. The one system studied to date uses an annular uncompensated receiver aperture and is known as 'Annular- Aperture IMPACT.' This system operates like a conventional outgoing-wave multidither COAT system in strong turbulence, requiring a well-defined target highlight for good convergence. In low turbulence (on the return path), however, the system has demonstrated its ability to converge a laser beam on a weak glint in the presence of a stronger one and to converge the beam on a featureless target.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA071691
Entities
People
- James E. Pearson
- Sigfried Hansen
- Thomas R. O'meara
Organizations
- HRL Laboratories