A novel approach for the remote alignment of segmented mirrors is presented. In comparison with conventional methods in which near-field measurements (in the form of displacements between neighboring segments or phase across the mirror) are used in a feedback control system, the far-field optimization method utilizes only attributes of the point-spread function. A figure of merit based on the far-field intensity is used to configure iteratively the segmented mirror to alignment. Following computer simulations, we conduct successful laboratory experiments to validate the far-field optimization concept. The potential utility of far-field optimization to the alignment of other adaptive optical systems and to dynamic wave-front control is briefly discussed.

© 1992 Optical Society of America

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