The minimum of the time-delay wavefront error in Adaptive Optics

Abstract

An analytical expression is given for the minimum of the time-delay induced wavefront error (also known as the servo-lag error) in Adaptive Optics systems under temporal prediction filtering. The analysis is based on the von K\'arm\'an model for the spectral density of refractive index fluctuations and the hypothesis of frozen flow. An optimal, temporal predictor can achieve up to a factor 1.77 more reduction of the wavefront phase variance compared to the zero-order prediction strategy, which is commonly used in Adaptive Optics systems. Alternatively, an optimal predictor can allow for a 1.41 times longer time-delay to arrive at the same residual phase variance. Generally, the performance of the optimal, temporal predictor depends on the very product of time-delay, wind speed and the reciprocal of turbulence outer scale.