Automated alignment of complex optical systems using far-field optimization

Antonio Pires; Patrick R. Manzo; Sarma N. Gullapalli; Alan R. Gayhart; R. LaBonte; Thomas J. Heydenburg; Bruce S. Maccabee

doi:10.1117/12.384288

4 May 2000 Automated alignment of complex optical systems using far-field optimization

Antonio Pires, Patrick R. Manzo, Sarma N. Gullapalli, Alan R. Gayhart, R. LaBonte, Thomas J. Heydenburg, Bruce S. Maccabee

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3931, Gas, Chemical, and Electrical Lasers and Intense Beam Control and Applications; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.384288
Event: Symposium on High-Power Lasers and Applications, 2000, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Techniques for autonomous alignment of beam control systems have been developed for a number of technologies including laser resonators, telescopes, and optical components. These techniques have been designed to perform remote autonomous alignment on space-based optical systems. This paper present an alignment procedure based on a modified Downhill Simplex optimization algorithm using the attributes of the optical system's far-field image as a figure of merit. Investigations using numerical simulations have demonstrated that this methodology is robust and viable as an approach for alignment of the wide field-of-view three-mirror beam expander developed under the Advanced Beam Control System (ABCS) program. Following computer simulations, we conducted laboratory experiments to validate the far-field optimization concept using the ABCS brassboard optical system. The potential utility of far-field optimization to the alignment of other optical systems such as Space-Based Laser is briefly discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Antonio Pires, Patrick R. Manzo, Sarma N. Gullapalli, Alan R. Gayhart, R. LaBonte, Thomas J. Heydenburg, and Bruce S. Maccabee "Automated alignment of complex optical systems using far-field optimization", Proc. SPIE 3931, Gas, Chemical, and Electrical Lasers and Intense Beam Control and Applications, (4 May 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.384288

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available