Analysis and demonstration of multiplexed phase computer-generated hologram for modal wavefront sensing

We propose to implement a modal wavefront sensor (MWS) using a multiplexed phase computer-generated hologram (MPCGH). Based on general orthogonal aberration modes, the theoretical treatments of the MWS employing a MPCGH are presented with scalar diffraction approximations and Fourier analysis. Under the small aberration approximations, we give the analytical formula for characterizing the relationship between the sensor signal and the amplitude of the aberration mode. We design several MPCGHs with an effective method of modified off-axis reference beam holograms superposition, and code some common orthogonal Zernike aberration modes into the MPCGH. The numerical simulation is carried out to investigate the performance of MWS to detect particular aberration mode(s). The results exhibit the expected responses of the corresponding symmetric spot pair, and indicate that the wavefront distorted by a special Zernike aberration mode, after modulated by the MPCGH, can be transformed into beams with an intensity-normalized differential signal, which can reflect the change trend of the aberration coefficients in the test wavefront. The experimental demonstration with designed MPCGHs in conjunction with two phase-only spatial light modulators was carried out to test the performance of the MWS.