Accuracy analysis of a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor operated with a faint object

A detailed analysis of the characteristics, regularities, and relationships of the centroiding errors of image spots caused by discrete and limited sampling, photon noise, and readout noise of the detector in a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor, wherein an image intensified charge-coupled device used as a photon detector is presented. The theoretical analysis and experimental results herein prove useful for optimum design and application of the sensor.