Abstract: A sensor and adjusting element for controlling high-powered laser beams. A single structural member, which is integrated into the beam path of the laser, simultaneously permits the sensing and the correction of angle and focusing errors in the beam path of high-powered lasers.

Abstract: A sensing device for use in an adaptive optic system, being provided with an optical phase correcting element, is specifically provided for ascertaining errors in the image of an object as imaged by the adaptive optical system as follows; rod lenses subdivide the entrance pupil of the aperture into a plurality of juxtaposed subapertures having a diameter corresponding to Fried's coherence diameter to obtain a respective plurality of individual images of the object; a high resolution optical-electrical detector array is positioned to receive the plurality of juxtaposed individual images; the relative disposition of the subimages is ascertained under utilization of a correlation computer.