Influence of transverse wind on the performance of an adaptive optics system

Considering time-delay and finite spatial bandwidth of an adaptive optics system, which is used in astronomical observation, the influence of transverse wind along the light propagation path on the performance of the system has been analyzed in this article, and the related analytical expressions have been obtained. The results have been compared with those obtained under open-loop operation, and those obtained when there is an ideal adaptive optics system, i.e., its spatial bandwidth is infinite. It is shown that the transverse wind has serious influence on a system with large diameter when the time delay is long and its spatial bandwidth is high. In some conditions, the performance of a system with higher spatial bandwidth is worse than that of a system with lower spatial bandwidth. This phenomenon has been analyzed. Its possible cause also has been presented in this article.