Method and apparatus to correct for thermally-induced wavefront distortion in crystal rods

摘要

An optical correction system for correcting thermally-induced wavefront distortions in an optical signal emanating from a crystal or other form of optical device/system. An optical output signal from the thermally sensitive optical device/system is fed to a beamsplitter, which produces a reflected optical signal and a refracted optical signal containing thermally-induced distortion. The refracted signal is fed to a wavefront distortion sensor which produces an output signal representative of the thermally-induced distortion. The output of the wavefront distortion sensor is fed to a computational device which determines the necessary degree of error correction to compensate for the thermally-induced optical distortion. A stress application device receives the output of the computational device and generates an electrical signal in accordance therewith which is then used to control a force applicator in physical contact with the crystal. The force applicator applies a precise degree of stress (either tensile or compressive) to the crystal to remove or substantially reduce the thermally-induced optical distortion.