Focal-plane wavefront sensing with photonic lanterns: theoretical framework

• DOI: 10.1364/josab.466227
• Publication Date: 2022-08-22T14:00:07Z
• Authors: Jonathan Lin; Michael P. Fitzge...; Yinzi Xin; Olivier Guyon; Sergio Leon-Saval; Barnaby Norris; Nemanja Jovanovic
• Keywords: Wavefront sensor

The photonic lantern (PL) is a tapered waveguide that can efficiently couple light into multiple single-mode optical fibers. Such devices are currently being considered for number of tasks, including the coupling telescopes and high-resolution, fiber-fed spectrometers, coherent detection, nulling interferometry, vortex-fiber (VFN). In conjunction with these use cases, PLs simultaneously perform low-order focal-plane wavefront sensing. this work, we provide mathematical framework analysis sensor (PLWFS), deriving linear higher-order reconstruction models as well metrics through which sensing performance -- both in nonlinear regimes be quantified. This extended to account additional optics such beam-shaping vortex masks, generalizable other architectures. Lastly, initial numerical verification our models, by simulating 6-port PLWFS. companion paper, more comprehensive characterization few-port PLWFSs, consider how properties controlled optimized.