Experimental realization of a fast-response Hartmann sensor

A description is given of a fast-response automated Hartmann sensor which converts the wavefront into an expansion in terms of the lowest aberrations. This sensor can be used to determine the vectors representing the tilts of the wavefront with a dimensionality of 38 and a "cyclicity" of 625 Hz, and also to expand the monitored wavefront using a basis of 19 Zernike polynomials with the wavefront reconstruction frequency of 45 Hz. A study is reported of the feasibility of using this sensor in determination of the dynamic and statistical characteristics of light beams distorted by a turbulent atmosphere.