On numerical simulation of high-speed CCD/CMOS-based wavefront sensors for adaptive optics

Wavefront sensors, which use solid-state CCD or CMOS photosensors, are sources of errors in adaptive optic systems. Inaccuracy in the detection of wavefront distortions introduces considerable errors into wavefront reconstruction and leads to overall performance degradation of the adaptive optics system. The accuracy of wavefront sensors is significantly affected by photosensor noise. Thus, it is crucial to formulate high-level photosensor models that enable adaptive optic engineers to simulate realistic effects of noise from wavefront sensors. However, the complexity of solid-state photosensors and multiple noise sources makes it difficult to formulate an adequate model of the photosensor. Moreover, the characterisation of the simulated sensor and comparison with real hardware is often incomplete due to lack of comprehensive standards and guidelines. Owe to these difficulties, engineers work with oversimplified models of the wavefront sensors and consequently have imprecise numerical simulation results. The paper presents an approach for the modelling of noise sources for CCD and CMOS sensors that are used for wavefront sensing in adaptive optics. Both dark and light noise such as fixed pattern noise, photon shot noise, and read noises, as well as, charge-to-voltage noises are described. Procedures for characterisation of both light and dark noises of the simulated photosensors are provided. Numerical simulation results of a photosensor for a high-frame rate Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor are presented.