Accuracy of correction in modal sensorless adaptive optics

We investigate theoretically and experimentally the parameters governing the accuracy of correction in modal sensorless adaptive optics for microscopy. On the example of two-photon fluorescence imaging, we show that using a suitable number of measurements, precise correction can be obtained for up to 2 radians rms aberrations without optimising the aberration modes used for correction. We also investigate the number of photons required for accurate correction when signal acquisition is shot-noise limited. We show that only 104 to 105 photons are required for complete correction so that the correction process can be implemented with limited extra-illumination and associated photoperturbation. Finally, we provide guidelines for implementing an optimal correction algorithm depending on the experimental conditions. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America