Wavefront sensorless adaptive optics: a general model-based approach.

Wavefront sensorless adaptive optics (AO) systems have been widely studied in recent years. To reach optimum results, such systems require an efficient correction method. In this paper, a general model-based correction method for a wavefront sensorless AO system is presented. The general model-based approach is set up based on a relationship wherein the second moments (SM) of the wavefront gradients are approximately proportionate to the FWHM of the far-field intensity distribution. The general model-based method is capable of taking various common sets of functions as predetermined bias functions and correcting the aberrations by using fewer photodetector measurements. Numerical simulations of AO corrections of various random aberrations are performed. The results show that the Strehl ratio is improved from 0.07 to about 0.90, with only N + 1 photodetector measurement for the AO correction system using N aberration modes as the predetermined bias functions.