Mikhail Vorontsov

ISR/UMD Research Professor, IOL Director

University of Maryland
2107 Myers Building
College Park, Maryland 20742
phone: 301-403-2096 (301 394 0214 -ARL)
fax: 301-403-2098
email: address hidden with image

U.S. Army Research Laboratory
2800 Powder Mill Road
Adelphi, Maryland 20783
phone: 301-394-0214
fax: 301-394-0225
email: address hidden with image

Education
Research Interests
Current Work
Affiliations
Links and Docs
Publications

Education

Ph.D. Physics, Moscow State University
D.Sc. Physics and Mathematics, Moscow State University

Research Interests

Primary

Optical communications (physical layer)
Adaptive optics
Imaging through turbulence
Laser beam control
Computer optics
Nonlinear spatio-temporal dynamics
Wavefront sensing and control
Parallel image processing and correction
Optical synergetics

General

Medical imaging
Optical micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)
Optimal control

Current Work

Target in the loop beam control

Development of an adaptive Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) free-space laser communication system.
Atmospheric Sensor Network for Laser Communication and Imaging Systems

The project is focused on the development of an advanced sensor network system where a number of different sensors linked to a sensor network provide simultaneous characterization and processing of multi-component data including imagery, meteorological data, atmospheric turbulence, laser beam propagation and optical communication parameters. The project is sponsored by DARPA.
Advanced Beam Control Techniques

This project is focused on several of the key technical problems associated with compensation of the effects of strong scintillation and thermal blooming on laser beam propagation when using extended, actively illuminated objects. The project is sponsored by the Joint Technology Office (JTO).
Advanced Wavefront Sensors

In applications that require propagation over an extended turbulent path, the performance of conventional wavefront sensors is severely limited due to the scintillation phenomena. Advanced phase-contracs wavefront sensors offer a solution to the wavefront sensing problem in strong scintillations. The current wavefront sensor implementation is a nonlinear Zernike Filter (NZF) wavefront sensor operating in the 0.4-0.8 mm wavelength range that obtains a local reference by using the Kerr non-linearity in a fast ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulator. The project is sponsored by the Joint Technology Office (JTO).
High-Resolution (Secondary Loop) Wavefront Control

The project is focused on the development of new adaptive imaging and laser communication system architectures that could integrate extremely high-resolution (512x512 and higher) phase-only spatial light-modulators such as the upcoming MEMS mirror arrays and liquid crystal phase SLMs. Currently experiments are performed with a 512x512 LC phase SLM using the decoupled stochastic parallel gradient descent algorithm and diffractive feedback approach. The project is sponsored by AFOSR (through New Mexico State University).
Adaptive and Synthetic Imaging Techniques for Retina Imaging

The research goal is the development of an optical imaging system for the characterization of the retina and/or macula of the eye. The technique is based on the use of model-free optimization image quality metrics with LC or/and MEMS phase modulators (adaptive imaging) and imaging information fusion based on a synthetic (nonlinear PDF-based) imaging technique.
Micro-Scale On-Chip Optical Wavefront Correction

The research goal is to develop hybrid optical and electronic micro-systems which correct for optical phase distortion on-line. The research focus is high integration density (10 to 50 �m pixel pitch), by implementing the correction algorithms and phase control on a microchip, interfacing directly with the optical wavefront. Besides a denser implementation, this allows for higher spatial optical resolution, and higher speed operation. The project is sponsored through NSF.
Nonlinear Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Large Array of Opto-Electronic Feedback Circuits

The project is focused on design and analysis of spatial self-organization phenomena in nonlinear optics using a few rather simple building blocks based on nonlinear optical systems with two-dimensional optical and electronic feedback circuits. Examples of recent experimentally observed optical spatial structures are: spatial solitons and controllable soliton arrays (optical quasi-crystals), solitary waves, spatio-temporal chaos.
On-the-Fly Image Processing for Anisoplanatic Imaging Through the Atmospheric Turbulence

This experimental research is motivated by recent quite unusual results obtained through theoretical and numerical studies of the synthetic imaging technique [Vorontsov, JOSA A 16(7), 1623, (1999)]. It was shown that processing of turbulence-degraded short exposure images may lead to an image that has an image quality superior to the undistorted image obtained in the absence of turbulence (super-resolution imaging). The goal is to perform experiments over a 1.5 mile atmospheric path using a fast-framing digital imaging camera and image processing hardware in an attempt to demonstrate the existence of super-resolution imaging conditions. The project is sponsored through ARL.