We present computer simulations of a tip-tilt adaptive optics system, where stochastic optimization is applied to the problemof dynamic compensation of atmospheric turbulence. The system uses a simple measure of the light intensity that passes through a mask and is recorded on the image plane, to generate signals for the tip-tilt mirror. A feedback system rotates the mirror adaptively and in phase with the rapidly changing atmospheric conditions. Computer simulations and a series of numerical experiments investigate the implementation of the method in the presence of drifting atmosphere. In particular, the study examines the system’s sensitivity to the rate of change of the atmospheric conditions and investigates the optimal size of the mirror’s masking area and the algorithm’s optimal degree of stochasticity.

Peer Reviewed