A 
system (80) for controlling deformations of optical components adapted for use with 
laser system aperture sharing elements (16) and deformable mirrors. The inventive 
system (80) includes a control loop (12, 40, 24, 20, 46, 28, 74, 78, 60, 34) for determining a desired temperature pattern. The control loop (12, 40, 24, 46, 28, 74, 78, 60, 34) provides a 
control signal (45) corresponding to the desired temperature pattern to a 
heat map applicator (18, 46, 47, 59, 60). The 
heat map applicator (18, 46, 47, 59, 60) applies the desired temperature pattern to the optical component (16) in response to the 
control signal and the optical component (16) is selectively deformed in response thereto. In a specific embodiment, the control loop (12, 40, 24, 20, 46, 28, 74, 78, 60, 34) is a 
closed loop control system that includes an interferometer (74). The interferometer (74) provides a first shape of the optical component (16) to a 
comparator circuit (20) that compares the first shape to a desired shape corresponding to the desired temperature pattern for determining the 
control signal. An alternative 
closed loop control system (12, 40, 24, 20, 46, 28, 74, 78, 60, 34) includes an 
infrared energy 
detector (12) that determines a current temperature pattern and generates the control 
signal in response thereto for converting the current temperature pattern to the desired temperature pattern. The 
heat map applicator (18, 46, 47, 59, 60) provides an electromagnetic beam (50, 52) that is swept across the optical component (16) to impart the desired temperature pattern on the optical component (16). In another illustrative embodiment, the control loop is an open 
loop control system that includes a complimentary electromagnetic energy beam that is swept over the optical component to form a heat pattern complimentary to the temperature pattern imparted to the optical component by a high power 
laser beam such that the total heat deposited on the optical component is uniform.