Patent ID: 6917426

Claim:
A real-time wavefront sensor system, for measuring an incoming optical wavefront, comprising: a) first polarizing element for receiving an incoming optical wavefront and providing a linearly polarized output therefrom; b) an electro-optically driven birefringent element for receiving said linearly polarized output and producing two polarization eigenwaves, wherein the index of refraction of the birefringent element is actively modified on a scale faster than fluctuations in phase, and an output of said birefringent element is elliptically polarized; c) a second polarizing element having a polarization axis perpendicular to a polarization axis of said first polarizing element, said second polarizing element for receiving said output from said birefringent element and providing a linearly polarized output; d) an optical assembly for receiving said output of said second polarizing element and forming a real image therefrom; and e) an optical-to-electronic imaging sensor assembly for receiving said real image and providing an electronic representation thereof, which may be used for real-time reconstruction of the incoming wavefront.