Parametric Studies of Adaptive Optics by Self-Interference Incoherent Digital Holography

Adaptive optics (AO) in astronomical imaging is a technique to improve the quality of image by compensating aberrations induced by atmospheric turbulence. Digital holographic AO (DHAO) is one attractive option to implement AO scheme because it is capable of directly measuring the phase profile of aberration without complicated calculation or loss of resolution of CCD. Hence, if applicable, DHAO is expected to have advantages over traditional AO systems. Recent development of self-interference incoherent digital holography (SIDH) makes it possible to apply the concept of DHAO for an astronomical application where the illumination is incoherent and cannot be controlled. We have investigated the image characteristics according to various parameters of SIDH AO to derive optimum condition or design of the system. We observe not only well-known super-resolution property of SIDH but also interesting and significant improvement of noise behavior by aberration compensation. Because of many beneficial features, we expect that SIDH AO will be a useful tool for astronomical imaging.