High resolution wavefront sensors are devices with a great practical interest since they are becoming a key part in an increasing number of applications like extreme Adaptive Optics. We describe the optical differentiation wavefront sensor, consisting of an amplitude mask placed at the intermediate focal plane of a 4-f setup. This sensor offers the advantages of high resolution and adjustable dynamic range. Furthermore, it can work with polychromatic light sources. In this paper we show that, even in adverse low-light-level conditions, its SNR compares quite well to that corresponding to the Hartmann-Shack sensor.

© 2003 Optical Society of America

1. G. Vdovin, �??Micromachined membrane deformable mirrors�?? in Adaptive Optics Engineering Handbook, R. Tyson, ed. (Marcel Dekker Inc, New York, 1998)
2. M. A. Neil, M. J. Booth, T. Wilson, �??New modal wave-front sensor: a theoretical analysis,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am A 17, 1098-1107 (2000) [CrossRef]
3. E. J. Fernandez, I. Iglesias and P. Artal, �??Closed-loop adaptive optics in the human eye,�?? Opt. Lett. 26, 746-748 (2001) [CrossRef]
4. V. F. Canales and M. P. Cagigal, �??Gain estimate for exoplanet detection with adaptive optics,�?? Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 145, 445-449 (2000) [CrossRef]
5. J. C. Bortz and B. J. Thompson, �??Phase retrieval by optical phase differentiation,�?? Proceedings of the SPIE 351, 71-79 (1983) [CrossRef]
6. O. von der Lühe, �??Wavefront error measurement technique using extended, incoherent light sources,�?? Opt. Eng. 27, 1078-1087 (1988).
7. E. N. Ribak �??Harnessing caustics for wave-front sensing,�?? Opt. Lett. 26, 1834-1836 (2001). [CrossRef]
8. R. Ragazzoni, �??Pupil plane wavefront sensing with an oscillating prism,�?? J. Mod. Opt. 43, 289-293 (1996). [CrossRef]
9. K. Iizuka, Engineering optics (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1987)
10. J. M. Geary, Introduction to wavefront sensors (SPIE Press, Washington, 1995). [CrossRef]
11. R. Irwan and R. G.Lane, �??Analysis of optimal centroid estimation applied to Shack-Hartmann sensing,�?? Appl. Opt. 32, 6737-6743 (1999). [CrossRef]
12. J. Primot, G. Rousset, and J. C. Fontanella, �??Deconvolution from wave-front sensing: a new technique for compensating turbulence-degraded images,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am A 7, 1598-1608 (1990) [CrossRef]
13. B. M. Welsh and C. S. Gardner, �??Performance analysis of adaptive optics systems using laser guide stars and slope sensors,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am A 12, 1913-1923 (1989) [CrossRef]
14. N. Roddier, �??Atmospheric wavefront simulation using Zernike polynomials,�?? Opt. Eng. 29, 1174-1180 (1990) [CrossRef]
15. R. Cubalchini, �??Modal wave-front estimation from phase derivative measurements,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am 69, 972-977 (1979) [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

• R. Irwan and R. G.Lane, �??Analysis of optimal centroid estimation applied to Shack-Hartmann sensing,�?? Appl. Opt. 32, 6737-6743 (1999). [CrossRef]

Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser.

• V. F. Canales and M. P. Cagigal, �??Gain estimate for exoplanet detection with adaptive optics,�?? Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 145, 445-449 (2000) [CrossRef]

J. Mod. Opt.

• R. Ragazzoni, �??Pupil plane wavefront sensing with an oscillating prism,�?? J. Mod. Opt. 43, 289-293 (1996). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am

• R. Cubalchini, �??Modal wave-front estimation from phase derivative measurements,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am 69, 972-977 (1979) [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am A

• J. Primot, G. Rousset, and J. C. Fontanella, �??Deconvolution from wave-front sensing: a new technique for compensating turbulence-degraded images,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am A 7, 1598-1608 (1990) [CrossRef]
• B. M. Welsh and C. S. Gardner, �??Performance analysis of adaptive optics systems using laser guide stars and slope sensors,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am A 12, 1913-1923 (1989) [CrossRef]
• M. A. Neil, M. J. Booth, T. Wilson, �??New modal wave-front sensor: a theoretical analysis,�?? J. Opt. Soc. Am A 17, 1098-1107 (2000) [CrossRef]

Opt. Eng.

• O. von der Lühe, �??Wavefront error measurement technique using extended, incoherent light sources,�?? Opt. Eng. 27, 1078-1087 (1988).
• N. Roddier, �??Atmospheric wavefront simulation using Zernike polynomials,�?? Opt. Eng. 29, 1174-1180 (1990) [CrossRef]

Opt. Lett.

• E. N. Ribak �??Harnessing caustics for wave-front sensing,�?? Opt. Lett. 26, 1834-1836 (2001). [CrossRef]
• E. J. Fernandez, I. Iglesias and P. Artal, �??Closed-loop adaptive optics in the human eye,�?? Opt. Lett. 26, 746-748 (2001) [CrossRef]

Proc. SPIE

• J. C. Bortz and B. J. Thompson, �??Phase retrieval by optical phase differentiation,�?? Proceedings of the SPIE 351, 71-79 (1983) [CrossRef]

Other

• K. Iizuka, Engineering optics (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1987)
• J. M. Geary, Introduction to wavefront sensors (SPIE Press, Washington, 1995). [CrossRef]
• G. Vdovin, �??Micromachined membrane deformable mirrors�?? in Adaptive Optics Engineering Handbook, R. Tyson, ed. (Marcel Dekker Inc, New York, 1998)

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