Hello,

I am intime doing a placement for my MSc studies in which I am implementing a laser to fiber incoupling with two pizomotors (x,y) the fiber output is observed by a diode as feedback. To do this I am using a SAB 80C535.

My problem now is (as I am a mathematical goofy:-)) to find an algorithm (or the mathematical name of the problem so I can search in the internet) that finds in an N*N big array a maximum. The value distribution in this array is more or less gaussian like (as the beam profile is not very nice).
As I read in former postings a simple two point-gradient approach does not work (it is likely that it is going to be caught in side maximas).

I already got a three point-gradient approach with two different itterations changing the resolution of the observing photodiode and changing to a smaller piezo step size. Which works quite well (considering that my programming is not very good) but not perfect my next guess will be an algo which scans the whole array which is pretty secure to find a maximum but might turn out to be too slow.

Any idea/help will be gladely apprechiated.

Cheers,
Klaus

PS: As I am reading and benefitting from the posting for quite a while I would like to take the chance and thank everybody for their former contributions.