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Abstract

A System and Method for Low Signal Knife Edge Wavefront Sensing in an Adaptive Optical System to provide measurement and compensation of aberrations induced by propagation through an optical system and through a turbulent medium to a target. The wavefront sensing method requires a minimum signal level for effective operation by taking advantage of the implicit gain afforded by the knife edge principle and incorporating a means for on-line calibration of the knife edge gain. This particular advantage reduces requirements on the laser utilized to generate a beacon signal for wavefront sensing and reduces requirements on the detectors utilized for wavefront sensing, ultimately reducing cost of the method relative to alternative adaptive optical systems using conventional wavefront sensing methods. The method is suitable for use with a broad range of laser sources, including continuous wave and pulsed laser sources, cooperative and non-cooperative targets.

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