Method for testing or controlling a performance of an adaptive optic

A method for testing or controlling a performance of an adaptive optic comprising the steps of:

• 1) generating from the adaptive optic an augmented matrix ##EQU16## comprising:
• (i) a local wavefront difference-error sensitivity matrix W.sub.s (i,j);
• and
• (ii) a local optical quality factor sensitivity matrix L.sub.s (i,j);
• 2) interrogating the adaptive optic by preferentially turning on selected laser sources which are directed into an entrance pupil of the adaptive optic, for recording a resultant diffraction pattern at an imaging plane;
• 3) taking a Fourier transform of the resultant diffraction pattern, for generating magnitude and phase components at selected pupil positions;
• 4) taking a Fourier transform of the resultant diffraction pattern, for generating up to N samples of magnitude and phase components, thereby forming an observation vector ##EQU17## 5) solving for a force vector .delta.p(i), ##EQU18## for applying the force vector to the adaptive optic.