Neural networks for image-based wavefront sensing for astronomy

Abstract:
We study the possibility of using convolutional neural networks for wavefront sensing from a guide star image in astronomical telescopes. We generated a large number of artificial atmospheric wavefront screens and determined associated best-fit Zernike polynomials. We also generated in-focus and out-of-focus point-spread functions. We trained the well-known “Inception” network using the artificial data sets and found that although the accuracy does not permit diffraction-limited correction, the potential improvement in the residual phase error is promising for a telescope in the 2–4 m class.