Using an Adaptive Filtration to Improve Adaptive Optical Systems Performance. Analytical Review

Abstract

For adaptive optical systems (AOS) installed in the optical path of aircraft-based laser systems, the presence of changing input light signals is typical. A wave-front sensor processes these signals. The quality of the radiation wave-front correction depends on how well the rapidly changing input signal is received and processed. When dealing with such signals, an adaptive filtration (AF) is used, which allows automatic adaptation to the changing input signal. The adaptive filtration is used in control algorithms for adaptive optical systems.The paper gives a brief theoretical AF background as applied to the AOS. The AF with feedback can be used for the following: a) predictions, b) identification of an unknown system, c) balancing of characteristics, d) disturbance rejection. The AF main point is to control the weighting factors of the input signal, which form the output signal. Under control, the difference between the reference and output signals is minimized. Mathematically, this comes down to defining the global minimum of the objective function. Among the search methods for this minimum, the paper considers the following ones: the Newton's method, the steepest-descent method and its modified version - the least square error method, and the recursive AF algorithm using the least squares criterion. The choice requirements for an adaptive algorithm are formulated.The paper considers direct application of the AF methods in the control algorithms of the AOS used in the airborne laser systems. Analyzes both the works on improving operation of classical AOS control loops (based on the PID-controllers with time-fixed gains) by adding various adaptive devices to the circuit, and the works on direct use of the adaptive filters and their relevant control algorithms. Adaptive filtering has shown the positive results both in suppressing the multiple narrow-band vibrations inherent in the aircraft and in broadband jitter due to the turbulent atmosphere, including the aero-optical wave-front aberrations of laser radiation.For more successful application of the adaptive filtering methods for AOS control, further interpretation and research into capabilities of their practical implementation for specific applications of adaptive optics is required.