Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor slope measurement algorithm robust to scintillation and sensor saturation

High throughput optical communication links require the use of adaptive optics (AO) to compensate for atmospheric turbulence even in strong perturbation conditions and at low elevation. Considering the intensity fluctuations brought by scintillation, we present a new slope measurement algorithm for the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWFS), based on a joint maximum likelihood approach. We show that this estimator is robust to sensor saturation and widens by more than two orders of magnitude the intensity range exploitable for reliable slope measurements compared to classical algorithms. Consequently, by increasing the intensity assigned to the wavefront sensor, we also increase the number of valid measurements despite sensor saturation.