Analysis of error source for Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor based on physical optical propagation

Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS) is widely applied in surface detection, astronomical observation, and ophthalmic optics. The accuracy of SHWS is heavily influenced by coupling errors caused by factors such as the light source, component position, and wavefront reconstruction algorithm. Traditional methods cannot extract information about individual errors, impeding subsequent analysis of error sources. This study proposes a SHWS model based on physical optical propagation. Compared to traditional simulation and calibration methods for SHWS, this model can intuitively analyze the influence of each error on reconstruction accuracy. Therefore, this model is expected to reduce installation difficulty, improve detection accuracy, and provide an essential reference for accurately measuring optical systems.