Spatial light modulators based laser guide star simulator

摘要

Atmospheric turbulence induces laser guide star (LGS) spot wandering in the sodium layer, which introduces trouble to adaptive optics systems. Experimental study of LGS spot wandering usually needs on-sky test. However, the on-sky test of LGS spot wandering is expensive and complicated. Since spatial light modulators (SLMs) are able to simulate atmospheric turbulence, we have designed and set up a SLMs based LGS simulator to study LGS spot wandering. This LGS simulator is prominent to build a bridge between theoretical study and on-sky test. Its performance is tested for vortex beam generated annular LGS which was proposed to reduce the LGS spot wandering in our former paper.