Analysis of centroiding algorithms for non-diffracting structured and hollow structured laser beams.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Metrology

Background:

• Traditional alignment methods face limitations in precision and robustness.
• Pseudo-non-diffractive beams, such as structured and hollow laser beams, offer reduced divergence and enhanced detection properties.
• Optical alignment systems require robust and accurate methods for determining beam centers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of optical-based systems utilizing pseudo-non-diffractive beams for alignment applications.
• To compare the performance of various centroiding algorithms in terms of accuracy and noise resilience.
• To introduce and assess a novel polarization-based centroiding algorithm.

Main Methods:

• Simulation and experimental analysis of structured and hollow laser beams.
• Implementation and comparison of gamma-corrected and threshold-corrected center of gravity algorithms.
• Evaluation of correlation template matching for centroid detection.
• Development and testing of a polarization-based centroiding algorithm.

Main Results:

• Pseudo-non-diffractive beams demonstrate lower divergence, enhancing detection capabilities for alignment.
• The study provides a comparative analysis of centroiding algorithm performance under varying noise conditions.
• The polarization-based algorithm shows potential for improved accuracy and robustness in optical alignment.

Conclusions:

• Optical systems employing pseudo-non-diffractive beams are a promising alternative for alignment tasks.
• Algorithm selection significantly impacts the accuracy and robustness of optical alignment systems.
• Further research into polarization-based methods could lead to advanced optical alignment solutions.