Sensorless Wavefront Sensing: Techniques, Applications, and Challenges

Numerous fields, such as ophthalmology, optical communication, microscopy, and astronomy frequently utilize sensorless wavefront sensing (SLWS) technologies. SLWS technologies are very helpful in correcting wavefront aberrations without the use of dedicated sensors, Future real-time wavefront sensing technologies and algorithms will surely evolve toward sensorless possibilities. However, there are several challenges associated with aberration correction, including multiple image recording and analysis, noisy and insufficient data, data visualization, and system calibration. This study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of SLWS, including its applications, opportunities, challenges, and state-of-the-art techniques. The various SLWS algorithms are discussed, along with their benefits and drawbacks. The results of SLWS can be beneficial in applications where precise wavefront correction is essential for obtaining clear and detailed observations, such as in astronomical imaging or high-resolution microscopy.