Development of an optical differentiation wavefront sensor based on binary pixelated transmission filters

We demonstrate the performance of an optical differentiation wavefront sensor(ODWS) relying on an optical system that images the pupilto a camera. A binary pixelated transmission filter with a linear amplitude-transmission gradient is located in a far field of the pupil. The ODWS uses the fluence data measured in the detection plane for two orthogonal orientations of the filter to determine wavefront-slope data along the two corresponding directions in the pupilplane. This technique allows for acquisition in real-time without moving parts, providing high resolution, high dynamic range, and achromatic wavefrontsensing for astronomical imaging or metrology applications.