Camera phasing in multi-aperture coherent imaging.

Area of Science:

• Optics and optical imaging
• Optical engineering
• Interferometry

Background:

• Diffraction-limited imaging system resolution scales with aperture size.
• Multi-aperture systems synthesize large apertures from smaller ones, offering modularity, reliability, and cost advantages.
• Phasing sub-apertures in multi-aperture systems is critical, with existing methods addressing only piston, tip, and tilt errors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel approach for correcting rotational and translational errors in multi-aperture imaging systems.
• To extend the error correction capabilities beyond piston, tip, and tilt for improved phasing accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Development of an algorithm to identify and compensate for rotational and translational misalignments between sub-apertures.
• Integration of the new correction method into the phasing process of a synthesized aperture.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of effective correction for rotational and translational inter-aperture errors.
• Quantification of the improvement in imaging resolution and accuracy due to the advanced phasing technique.

Conclusions:

• The presented approach significantly enhances the performance of multi-aperture imaging systems by addressing previously uncorrected error types.
• This work paves the way for more robust and accurate multi-aperture optical designs.