NGST high dynamic range unwrapped phase estimation

We report on an algorithm enabling estimation of high dynamic range pupil phase without wrapping ambiguity. This algorithm was developed and validated using the NGST Wavefront Control Testbed (WCT-1), which permits introduction of aberrations and subsequent correction using 2 deformable mirrors. The algorithm is an extension of a Modified Gerchberg-Saxton iterative technique that incorporates both an evolving trial estimate as well as intermediate unwrapping. We will discuss results from WCT-1 that illustrate phase estimation when varying degrees of aberration are introduced.