Patent ID: 6370166
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: G02B,H01S

Abstract:
A method of correcting the wavefront of laser light traveling along a path through a medium while in the process of propagation so as to correct both irregularites in wavefront that are inherent in the laser light and irregularities which occur as the laser light travels through the medium, the method comprising:propagating laser light through a medium, picking up all laser light, at a suitable site, from the medium through which the laser light is propagating illuminating a deformable mirror with the laser light, splitting out a portion of the laser light reflected from the deformable mirror, measuring the wavefront of the split laser light with a wavefront sensor, calculating a required amount of deformation of the mirror based on the measured wavefront, deforming the mirror by the calculated amount so as to control the wavefront of the laser light, and allowing the laser light with the controlled wavefront to be admitted again into the medium so that the laser light propagates over the remainder of the path through the medium.