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Phase retrieval using single farfield image data is the key to many applications. However, this method easily falls into stagnation because of the multiple solutions. A wavefront reconstruction algorithm based on the hybrid focal lengths Fresnel zone plane is proposed in this paper. By using the proposed method the partially focused and defocused information of wavefront can be captured on just one farfield image. This method can effectively solve the phase ambiguity, and the optical structure is very simple and easy to implement. Simulation results show that the proposed method can reconstruct wavefront aberration very precisely with just one far field.

In this paper, we present a method based on geometry optics to simultaneously correct low-order aberrations and reshape the beams of slab lasers. A coaxial optical system with three lenses is adapted. The positions of the three lenses are directly calculated based on the beam parameters detected by wavefront sensors. The initial sizes of the input beams are 1.8 mm×11 mm, and peak-to-valley (PV) values of the wavefront range up to several tens of microns. After automatic correction, the dimensions may reach nearly 22 mm×22 mm as expected, and PV values of the wavefront are less than 2 μm. The effectiveness and precision of this method are verified with experiments.

Slab geometry is a promising architecture for power scaling of solid-state lasers. By propagating the laser beams along zigzag path in the gain medium, the thermal effects can be well compensated. However, in the non-zigzag direction, the thermal effects are not compensated. Among the overall aberrations in the slab lasers, the major contributors are two low-order aberrations: astigmatism and defocus, which can range up to over 100 microns (peak to valley), leading to detracted beam quality. Another problem with slab lasers is that the output beams are generally in a rectangular aperture with high aspect ratio (normally 1:10), where square beams are favorable for many applications. In order to solve these problems, we propose an automatic low-order aberration compensation system. This system is composed of three lenses fixed on a motorized rail, one is a spherical lens and the others are cylindrical lenses. Astigmatism and defocus can be compensated by merely adjusting the distances between the lenses. Two wave-front sensors are employed in this compensation system, one is used for detecting the initial parameters of the beams, and the other one is used for detecting the remaining aberrations after correction. The adjustments of the three lenses are directly calculated based on beam parameters using ray tracing method. The initial size of the beam is 3.2mm by 26mm, and peak to valley(PV) value of the wave-front is 33.07λ(λ=1064nm). After correction, the dimension becomes 40mm by 40mm, and peak to valley (PV) value of the wave-front is less than 2 microns.

We propose a new algorithm for wavefront sensing based on binary intensity modulation. The algorithm is based on the fact that a wavefront can be expended with a series of orthogonal and binary functions, theWalsh series. We use a spatial light modulator (SLM) to produce different binary-intensity-modulation patterns which are the simple linear transformation of the Walsh series. The optical fields under different binary-intensity-modulation patterns are detected with a photodiode. The relationships between the incident wavefront modulated with the patterns and their optical fields are built to determinate the coefficients of the Walsh series. More detailed and strict relationship equations are established with the algorithm by adding new modulation patterns according to the properties of the Walsh functions. An exact value can be acquired by solving the equations. Finally, with the help of phase unwrapping and smoothing, the wavefront can be reconstructed. The advantage of the algorithm is providing an analytical solution for the coefficients of the Walsh series to reconstruct the wavefront. The simulation experiments are presented and the effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated. © 2017 Chinese Physical Society and IOP Publishing Ltd.