Abstract

Our method of phase retrieval1 is based on the transport of intensity equation which relates the phase of a paraxial wavefield to the longitudinal intensity gradient, and is an extension of the method initially proposed by Teague2 which was later developed into the method of wavefront curvature sensing by Roddier3. Whilst conceptually simple, the problem to date with recovering phase data in real time using systems based on the transport of intensity equation has been that it is computationally intensive and sensitive to the effects of noise, both of which limit its usefulness in adaptive optics applications.

© 1996 Optical Society of America