Local Optical Correction System

AbstractThe Local Optical Correction System (LOCS), currently in fabrication, is a next genera-tion beam control concept. The LOCS is designed to demonstrate full aperture sampling ofthe outgoing wavefront, alignment and stabilization using an inertially stabilized refer- ence, and correction of local optical train errors. Sampling is by a low efficiency holographic grating on the 60 cm primary mirror. The grating diffracts a visible (0.6328 micron) probe beam into a wavefront sensor behind the secondary mirror. Wavefront infor- mation is processed in real time, and a deformable mirror is actuated to modify the out- going beam. The primary emphasis is on the removal of internally generated distortions.System delivery to the Air Force Weapons Laboratory is currently scheduled for November 1981. Preliminary testing should be completed by May 1982.Introduction The Local Optical Correction System (LOCS) is the next step in beam control system development. LOCS is a laboratory breadboard system that will demonstrate correction ofoptical train errors such as mirror misfigure and distortion, and will demonstrate beam