Dual-wavelength adaptive optical systems.
A method for decomposition of phase difference error between measurements of atmospheric turbulence-induced phase distortion at two different wavelengths is described. Calculations are made of the phase difference errors in the first five Zernike radial modes for both ground-to-ground and ground-to-space transmission of laser radiation. It is found that the phase difference error compared with the uncorrected wavefront phase error is relatively insignificant in the first (tilt) Zernike mode but increases in significance with the order of the Zernike mode. Relative phase difference error is also found to depend on transmitted and received wavelengths, aperture diameter, propagation path, and strength of turbulence.