Abstract

An integrated beam control demonstration (IBCD) has been fabricated and tested under the direction of the Naval Surface Warfare Center for the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. The IBCD demonstrates the key technologies required for implementing a three mirror, wide field of view (WFOV), Advanced Beam Control System for a space-based laser.

This paper describes an overview of the IBCD and reviews the development and test of the WFOV beam expander, outgoing wavefront sensor (OWS), deformable mirror, dynamic steering mirrors, wavefront control subsystem and high speed diagnostic interferometer. The results include photos of the IBCD and hardware assemblies and evaluation of wavefront control performance.

© 1992 Optical Society of America