A program is proposed to develop data processing routines for adaptive optics. These routines will be such that they run on a PC, such as a 486, and are compatible with commercial software packages, such as MATLAB, Matrix X, or Control C. A key feature of this work is the breadth of experience that… More

Wavefront sensing in high scintillation environments is degraded in conventional sensors by a coupling, in the measurement, between phase and irradiance variations. An evaluation of this effect, and its impact on performance of systems, such as ABL, isproposed. An innovative wavefront sensor design… More

"Conventional tracking schemes have reached their performance limit for systems such as the Airborne Laser operating in deep turbulence environments. The next generation of high precision tracking systems must exploit all information available to producethe desired track correction. A study of… More

"The proposed effort utilizes the experience gained from over 20 years of work performed by the Optical Sciences Company in the areas of atmospheric propagation, wavefront sensing and adaptive optics technology to develop real time adaptive signalprocessors for on-line performance optimization of… More

Conventional tracking schemes have reached their performance limit for systems such as the Airbone Laser operating in deep turbulence environments. The next generation of high precision tracking systems must exploit all information available to producethe desired track correction. The Phase I SBIR… More

The proposed effort utilizes the experience gained from over 20 years of work performed by the Optical Sciences Company in the areas of atmospheric propagation, wavefront sensing and adaptive optics technology to develop real time adaptive signalprocessors for on-line performance optimization of… More

High scintillation environments pose additional sensor burdens on conventional wavefront sensors, mainly; impaired branch cut phase estimation particularly when used in closed loop AO systems. A Self Referencing Interferometer, which measures phasedirectly, is seen as potentially providing superior… More

A study is proposed to compare conventional beam control approaches utilized in baseline ABL engagements with advanced concepts which utilize laser guide star technology, relay mirror technology and optimal esimator technology. The concepts developedduring the proposed activity will be assessed for… More

The computational burden of simulating the process of imaging incoherently illuminated extended objects, through high turbulence, using conventional wave optics simulation techniques is very significant. This simulation capability is crucial for evaluating performance of such systems as the Advanced… More

This proposed effort bridges the gap between the present state of development of MEMS deformable mirror technology and the practical implementation of this technology in high resolution, wide dynamic range applications. The work begins with a detailed assessment of the requirements associated with… More

The complexity of simulating electro-magnetic propagation through turbulence often requires sophisticated techniques both in the use of proper physics models and in the numerical implementation in simulations. Incoherent imaging of extended targets is one problem which is not reasonably solved with… More

This proposed Phase II effort continues to bridge the gap between the present state of development of MEMS deformable mirror technology and the practical implementation of this technology in high resolution, wide dynamic range applications. The high performance, low cost, and small size of these… More

The proposed effort develops the understanding required to assess the utility of using a MEMS device to prepare the required optical fields that not only facilitate quantum entanglement, but also maintain a sufficient level of quantum entanglement for propagation through an aberrating medium such as… More

The Kolmogorov spectrum for the refractive index is often assumed for analysis and simulation of optical propagation through turbulence. It is recognized that the Hill spectrum, including inner scale, is a more realistic model of index variations. This model includes a turbulence enhancement in a… More

The computational burden of simulating incoherent imaging of large extended objects, through high turbulence, using conventional wave optics simulation techniques is very significant. This simulation capability is crucial for evaluating performance of such systems as the Advanced Tactical Laser… More

Knowledge of key parameters of optical turbulence is essential for prediction of optical performance in both imaging and transmitting applications. Optimal techniques for compensation of turbulence effects are only as good as the knowledge of the turbulence environment. The basic required… More

Conventional adaptive optics technologies for compensation of weak to moderate atmospheric turbulence are ineffective in deep atmospheric turbulence. The challenges in this high Rytov regime are segregated into the two problems of developing an adaptive optics beacon and compensation of an optical… More

The proposed effort builds upon the results obtained from the successful Phase I effort to develop a design for a quantum communication demonstration experiment to be conducted at an Air Force facility such as SOR or NOP. Because of the low cost and light weight of MEMS adaptive optics, this… More

This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project provides a significant advancement of the state of the art in fast, high-precision calibration and control of deformable mirrors for adaptive optics (AO)applications. This is accomplished by the development of a detailed nonlinear model… More

The design of high performance adaptive optics systems requires a knowledge of the characteristics of optical turbulence that directly impact system performance. Laser weapons designers require an understanding of worst case turbulence effects in order to develop optimal designs. Compensation… More

The proposed effort develops the understanding required to assess the utility of using OAM states and quantum entanglement as a novel protocol for quantum key distribution for propagation through an aberrating medium such as the atmosphere. In addition a conceptual design of an experiment that is… More

A framework for studying the statistics of optical turbulence in an airborne platform is being proposed. This framework accounts for static, determined dynamic (or flowing), and random aberrations. It is recognized that the random aberrations due to the aero-optic boundary layer turbulence are not… More

ABSTRACT: A design analysis is proposed to enhance the performance of conventional phased array weapon systems and ensure that traditionally required pointing and tracking functions can be maintained. A key feature of the proposed program is the inclusion of complimentary technologies that… More

An integrated, inexpensive, compact adaptive optics system suited for use in surveillance, reconnaissance, and laser applications is proposed. The proposal provides a specific hardware implementation that utilizes cutting edge technologies, including a 32x32 actuator deformable mirror and a… More

ABSTRACT: Significant opportunities exist for improving the measurement, estimation, and control processes of phased array transceivers. The proposed effort focuses on the Enhanced IPALS phasing concept, but can be adapted to other phasing concepts. A phased array model will be adapted from… More

ABSTRACT: The goal of this project is to develop key algorithmic components for predictive control of wavefront aberrations in aero-optics systems. Prediction should allow for improved performance over existing approaches and/or the use of low-cost commercial off-the-shelf components in these… More

ABSTRACT: The problem of characterizing turbulence over long optical paths or over very strong shorter paths is challenging and unsolved. Current measurement systems do not address all aspects of the problem. Generally available measurements are incomplete in that they do not contain sufficient… More

ABSTRACT: Building on Phase I research that demonstrated the feasibility of target-based phasing for phased array beam control, the proposed Phase II research consists of analysis and a laboratory experiment. The four key topics of the research are phasing at the target, correcting stair mode… More

ABSTRACT: This project addresses the difficult computational challenges that arise in space-based infrared object detection and tracking. We propose to implement a particular particle filtering technique which been demonstrated to robustly handle multiple, closely spaced, unresolved targets of… More