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This section provides an overview for wavefront sensors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 5 wavefront sensor manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked wavefront sensor companies as of December, 2024: 1.AKA OPTICS, 2.TRIOPTICS GmbH, 3.Imagine Optic.
Table of Contents
A Wavefront Sensor is a sensor used to measure abnormalities in the phase of optical waves, known as wavefront aberrations.
Also referred to as Shack-Hartmann sensors, these devices detect wavefront aberrations and distortions within an optical system. Widely used, they provide feedback to correct these aberrations, enabling precise adjustments and optimal performance in optical instruments such as microscopes and lasers. This high-precision measurement capability allows for the generation of high-resolution images and precise optical measurements, facilitating discoveries and advancing understanding.
Additionally, wavefront sensors are employed for continuous monitoring and feedback control of optical system performance. This functionality allows the system to detect and automatically adjust for abnormal aberrations using deformable mirrors or spatial light modulators. However, utilizing wavefront sensors requires advanced optical knowledge and specialized skills, including accurate sensor setup, data analysis, and correction techniques.
Wavefront sensors find applications in various fields involving optical systems and instruments.
In astronomy, wavefront sensors are used for adjusting and improving the performance of telescopes and space telescopes. They correct wavefront distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence and changes in refractive index, allowing high-precision observations of celestial bodies such as stars and galaxies. This capability enables detailed observations of distant celestial objects, contributing to a deeper understanding of galaxies and the universe.
In the fields of biology and medicine, wavefront sensors are utilized in high-resolution microscopes for observing minute biological samples. This sensor helps visualize the detailed structures of biological samples, contributing to research on cells and biomolecules.
Wavefront sensors in laser processing devices evaluate and, if necessary, correct the quality of laser light. They are also used as precision adjustment tools for optical alignment, allowing for high-precision laser cutting, drilling, marking, and other processing operations.
In space laser communication systems, fluctuations in the phase and wavefront of light can occur during transmission. As this may degrade signal quality, wavefront sensors monitor transmission performance, measuring wavefront distortions and aberrations. This enables the maintenance of communication quality, with corrections made as needed.
A wavefront sensor is a device designed to measure aberrations and distortions in the wavefront of an optical system. It measures the entire spatial extent of the wavefront, analyzing it to quantify distortions. The sensor is typically composed of a micro-lens array and an image sensor.
The critical component is the micro-lens array, which divides incoming light into numerous small regions and converges each region onto specific points. The positions of these spots subtly change based on the spatial phase of the incoming light wave. The convergent light from the micro-lens array is projected onto an image sensor, which detects the positions of the spots. The ideal convergence of spots, generated by ideal incident light, records the central positions of each spot.
The detected positions of the spots on the image sensor, caused by incoming light from the measured target, represent deviations from the ideal positions. These deviations are used to calculate the spatial phase difference of the incident light wave, serving as an indicator of wavefront distortions and aberrations. Often, the output is presented in the form of Zernike polynomials.
Choosing an appropriate wavefront sensor is crucial, considering the specific requirements of the intended application. Here are key factors to consider:
Clearly define the purpose for which the wavefront sensor will be used. Different applications, such as aberration correction in telescopes or quality control in laser communication, have varying requirements.
Some applications demand extremely high-precision wavefront measurements. Particularly in physics and astronomy, measurement accuracy is a crucial factor. Confirm the required measurement accuracy and select a sensor that meets the precision needed. However, the transmitted wavefront is not an item specified by ISO. It will be necessary to check with each manufacturer as each has its specifications.
Wavefront sensors may be designed to correspond to specific wavelength ranges. Verify that the sensor aligns with the wavelength of the light source being used. If the sensor does not cover the wavelength range of the light source, accurate measurements may not be possible.
Choose a wavefront sensor that fits the size and shape of the optical system being used. Generally, large optical systems require large sensors, while compact sensors are advantageous for smaller optical systems. Large telescopes or space telescopes may require large-diameter sensors, whereas smaller sensors are commonly used in cameras and sensing devices on drones. However, for measuring lenses with highly advanced non-spherical shapes, a large sensor may be required even for small lenses.
When using a wavefront sensor, an auxiliary optical system is often required to perform tasks such as magnification, reduction, or attenuation. Selecting the correct optical system and combining it with the wavefront sensor enables high-precision measurements.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Thorlabs, Inc, established in Newton, NJ in 1989, is a manufacturer of photonics equipment for research, manufacturing, and biomedical applications. Their product portfolio includes optical components, for use in imaging, sensing, and spectroscopy applications, spectrometers and analyzers used for research and industrial applications, fiber optic components and photomultiplier tubes, and imaging devices that capture and measure light signals for diverse applications in scientific research. The company has sales offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, China, and Brazil.
Imagine Optic, established in 1996 and based in Orsay, France, is a manufacturer of wavefront sensing and adaptive optics products. The company offers deformable mirrors for correcting wavefront distortions in optical systems, wavefront sensors for precise measurement applications, and adaptive optics components for improving the performance of existing optical systems. It also offers installation assistance and equipment recalibration services for customers requiring additional support. The company chiefly serves clients in the optoelectronic, consumer electronic, and computer science industries.
Phasics, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Saint-Aubin, France, is an ISO 9001-certified supplier of optics metrology and imaging solutions. Its product portfolio includes quantitative phase imaging cameras, wavefront sensors, and integrated optics testing stations. The products are used in several applications, including quantitative phase imaging for biology, gas density measurements, and refractive index mapping in materials. The company’s patented QWLSI technology was developed to overcome the limitations of Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors and Fizeau interferometers and can measure diverging beams with no relay lens. It uses a smart diffractive grating design and offers four times more resolution than Shack-Hartmann.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AKA OPTICS |
27.8%
|
| 2 | TRIOPTICS GmbH |
22.2%
|
| 3 | Imagine Optic |
16.7%
|
| 4 | PHASICS S.A |
16.7%
|
| 5 | Thorlabs, Inc |
16.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the wavefront sensor page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
France
|
2 | 66.7% |
|
United States of America
|
1 | 33.3% |
