Clustering of wavefront sensor subapertures to improve adaptive optics system performance

This paper presents a discussion of the trade-offs between fully and partially compensated adaptive optics systems. The key concept explored was the trade-offs to be made between increasing the system sample spacing by enlarging the size of subapertures and the associated decrease in noise levels at the wavefront sensor. A method to counteract the impact of low light levels on adaptive optics system performance without the use of laser beacons was examined. This method involves the notion of ''clustering'' smaller wavefront sensor subapertures into larger effective wavefront sensor subapertures via software instruction. However, for the modeled 1.6 meter adaptive optics system, no benefit was seen by switching to a clustering scheme.