Closed loop performance of a layer-oriented multi-conjugate adaptive optics system

The dynamic properties of a layer-oriented multi-conjugate adaptive optics system are examined. It is shown that such a system is stable and closes th e loop. A simplified analysis of the achievable correction is presented, in order to define the conditions in which the layer-oriented approach is equ ivalent to other linear reconstruction schemes. It is found that this appro ach is equivalent to an optimum one, under certain assumptions, but still r etaining the potential advantages of such a novel scheme.