Wavefront control for space telescope applications using adaptive optics

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Authors
Allen, Matthew R.
Subjects
Advisors
Agrawal, Brij
Date of Issue
2007-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Future long dwell high resolution imagery satellites and space telescopes will require very large flexible primary mirrors. These large mirrors face many challenges including optical surface imperfections, structural vibrations, and jitter. A flexible mirror can overcome some of these challenges by applying adaptive optics techniques to correct mirror deformations and aberrations to produce image quality data. This paper examines and develops control techniques to control a deformable mirror subjected to a disturbance. The experimental portion of the work uses discrete time proportional integral control with second order filters to control disturbances in a deformable mirror and correct aberrations in an adaptive optics system using laser light. Using an adaptive optics testbed containing two deformable mirrors, two fast steering mirrors, two wave front sensors, a position sensor, and a combination of lenses the system corrects a simulated dynamic disturbance induced in the deformable mirror. Experiments using the described testbed successfully demonstrate wavefront control methods, including a combined iterative feedback and gradient control technique. This control technique results in a three fold improvement in RMS wavefront error over the individual controllers correcting from a biased mirror position. Second order discrete time notch filters are also used to remove induced low frequency actuator and sensor noise at 0.8 Hz, 2 Hz and 5 Hz. Additionally a 2 Hz structural disturbance is simulated on a Micromachined Membrane Deformable Mirror and removed using discrete time notch filters combined with a modal iterative closed loop feedback controller, showing a 36 fold improvement in RMS wavefront error over the iterative closed loop feedback alone.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
NPS Outstanding Theses and Dissertations
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xvi, 91 p. : ill. (chiefly col.) ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined
in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. As such, it is in the
public domain, and under the provisions of Title 17, United States
Code, Section 105, is not copyrighted in the U.S.