FPGA based adaptive optics control system

Abstract

Traditional Adaptive Optics (AO) control is performed on a PC. This can be a performance-limiting factor as AO control processing involves a lot of numerically intensive function execution, not well suited to processor-based sequential processing. FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) afford an attractive solution for AO control because of their relatively low cost and their ability to process large volumes of data in parallel, and at high speeds. This paper outlines the architecture and performance of a high performance, low- cost, flexible FPGA IP toolbox for AO control systems. In particular it describes the design and synthesis of the wavefront reconstructor, leaky integrator and Deformable Mirror (DM) interface blocks for FPGA implementation.