Hybrid approach used for extended image-based wavefront sensor-less adaptive optics

The stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithm is widely used in wavefront sensor-less adaptive optics (WSAO) systems. However, the convergence is relatively slow. Modal-based algorithms usually provide much faster convergence than SPGD; however, the limited actuator stroke of the deformable mirror (DM) often prohibits the sensing of higher-order modes or renders a closed-loop correction inapplicable. Based on a comparative analysis of SPGD and the DM-modal-based algorithm, a hybrid approach involving both algorithms is proposed for extended image-based WSAO, and is demonstrated in this experiment. The hybrid approach can achieve similar correction results to pure SPGD, but with a dramatically decreased iteration number.