Simulation of modal wavefront sensor employed multiplexed holographic optical elements

Detailed analysis was carried out upon the modal wavefront sensor (MWFS) employed multiple holographic optical elements(MHOEs). The distribution of diffraction field on the detector plane of the MWFS was present, and further deduction was made to gain an analytical expression of intensity distribution of the diffraction field, which resulted in the unification with the theory of mode-biased wavefront sensor. For sake of simplicity in numerical simulation of the MWFS, we have done some modification to the original approach. An equivalent model of the MWFS has been proposed, in which we choose two tilt conjugate plane waves to replace the tilt convergent spherical waves as the reference waves in recording holograms, and place a convergent lens in close proximity to the rear surface of holographic element. We validated the principle of the MWFS by numerical simulations employed the equivalent model. The simulation results were consistent with the theoretical ones.