The low-latency adaptive optical mirror system (LLAMAS) is designed to
push the limits on achievable latencies and frame rates. It has 21
subapertures across its pupil. A reformulated version of the linear
quadratic Gaussian (LQG) method predictive Fourier control is
implemented in LLAMAS; for all modes, it takes just
30 µs to compute. In the testbed, a turbulator mixes hot
and ambient air to produce wind-blown turbulence. Wind prediction
clearly improves correction when compared to an integral controller.
Closed-loop telemetry shows that wind-predictive LQG removes the
characteristic “butterfly” and reduces temporal error
power by up to a factor of three for mid-spatial frequency modes.
Strehl changes seen in focal plane images are consistent with
telemetry and the system error budget.