Optical heterodyne arrays for large space optics figure sensing

It is envisioned that large, lightweight, optical mirrors for use in space will require onboard instrumentation for measuring and controlling the gross aspects of the mirror surface figure. An optical heterodyne array is well-suited for the figure sensing portion of this operation. The basic principles of heterodyne wave front sensing are reviewed and the advantages of this approach are highlighted. We describe the development of a dedicated circuitry module for integration with a sensor array for performing heterodyne array phase measurements.