Dynamics of adaptive optical systems

J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis. 2010 Nov 1;27(11):A216-22. doi: 10.1364/JOSAA.27.00A216.

Abstract

Dynamic (time) characteristics of adaptive systems are analyzed. A common adaptive system with a finite frequency band (or a finite response time) is described as a dynamic constant time-delay system, where time delay is to be much shorter than the time of coherence radius transfer through an optical beam by a mean wind speed. The questions of coherent beam formation are considered with use of the reference source. The analytical calculation of the Strehl parameter is made on basis of the generalized Huygens-Kirchhoff principle. An adaptive system is considered where the correcting phase is calculated with the use of both its derivatives and the signal, as well as adaptive systems using different time-predicting algorithms of the correcting signal for future time points. The use of a predicted phase front of the correcting wave allows much longer time delays. The stronger the phase distortions in the optical wave, the higher the time gain in comparison with common (with constant time delay) adaptive systems.