Weighted Fried reconstructor and spatial-frequency response optimization of Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensing

Abstract

Two modified Fried wavefront reconstructors are proposed, both based on an enhanced geometry that combines and balances those of Fried and Hudgin with an additional weight. The optimal weights for both of them are derived with the analytical frequency response functions, which can provide near-unity spatial frequency response over broad bandwidth to the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing system. Comparisons between the proposed reconstructors and the classical ones are presented in the frequency domain, and simulations have further confirmed the frequency characteristic and the reconstruction performance of the new reconstructors. It is expected that the optimized reconstructors can help improve the performance of adaptive optics systems for high-power laser wavefront control and other relevant optical systems that require high-accuracy wavefront sensing.