Abstract

Multidither coherent optical adaptive techniques (COAT) are at the present the leading adaptive optics system approach for high-energy laser applications. Multidither COAT has been demonstrated effective in compensating turbulence¹ and thermal blooming² with realistic targets. Previous experimental systems,¹-³ however, have utilized segmented transmitter arrays that apply the adaptive phase correction in a stepwise manner across the transmitting aperture. Practical high-power coat systems will use continuous-surface deformable mirrors for both the dither and phase-correction functions, since the mirror surfaces require cooling.

© 1976 Optical Society of America