Compensation for small-scale phase distortions using a Fourier phase corrector

It is demonstrated experimentally that efficient compensation for small-scale phase distortions of a CO₂ laser waverfront can be achieved by using a Zernike cell type of wavefront-reversal system. After passing twice through the phase plate the Strehl number of the beam increases from 0.43 to 0.86 due to the compensation. The main factors determining the quality of the compensation for the distortions are discussed.