A Generalized Phase Diversity Technique Using Multiple Defocused Images

Abstract Phase diversity techniques commonly employ a pair of focused–defocused images to retrieve the incident wave front and restore observed scene. However, combination more images, each one affected by different amount defocus, has been barely explored in solar astronomy. In this work we reformulate “classic” two-images phase approach accommodate an arbitrary number differences investigate its performance synthetic magnetohydrodynamical simulations scene corrupted noise degraded certain set aberrations. We combinations defocused from ±0.5 λ up ±2 (peak peak) compare both retrieved with restored unaberrated noiseless effect using series symmetrically asymmetrically respect focused one. these two cases method is improved use than although it benefits symmetric defocuses. find also that there qualitative best choice terms goodness retrieval object. The presented potential either instruments equipped refocusing mechanism or during laboratory calibrations instrument provided optical target can be manually amounts.