Comparing thin and volume regimes of analog holograms for wavefront sensing

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Holography
• Wavefront Sensing

Background:

• Accurate wavefront sensing is crucial for optical system performance.
• Holographic sensors offer a compact and potentially low-cost solution.
• Comparing thin and volume hologram regimes for wavefront sensing is underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and compare thin and volume analog holographic wavefront sensors for defocus measurement.
• To analyze the impact of crosstalk from other aberrations (astigmatism, coma, spherical aberration) on sensor performance.
• To evaluate sensor performance under simulated atmospheric turbulence.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of thin and volume phase transmission holograms using self-developing photopolymer.
• Design of sensors specifically for measuring optical defocus.
• Experimental analysis of crosstalk effects with single aberration modes.
• Performance characterization under emulated moderate atmospheric turbulence conditions.

Main Results:

• The first direct comparison of thin versus volume hologram regimes for wavefront sensing was reported.
• Volume holographic sensors demonstrated superior performance compared to thin holograms, particularly in the presence of aberrations.
• Sensor performance was evaluated under simulated atmospheric turbulence, highlighting the robustness of the volume design.

Conclusions:

• Volume phase transmission holograms are more effective than thin holograms for analog wavefront sensing, especially for defocus measurement.
• The findings provide valuable insights for designing robust holographic optical elements for adaptive optics and other applications.
• This work establishes a benchmark for comparing different holographic approaches in wavefront sensing.