Raw PSF contrast in VLT-scale telescope experiments. Upper images: raw PSF contrast. Lower plot: the radial averages over the image. The blue lines are for the integrator and red for the PO4AO. The raw PSF contrast was computed during the 1000 frames of the experiment. Panel a: performance of PO4AO with ideal WFS. We see that P04AO delivers a factor of 20–90 improvement inside the AO control radius compared to well-tuned integrator. Panel b: performance of PO4AO on 0th mag guide star and a nonmodulated PWFS. PO4AO delivers a factor of 4–7 better contrast inside the AO control radius. Panel c: performance of PO4AO on 9th mag guide star. We see a factor of 3–9 improvement in the raw PSF contrast. Panel d: performance of PO4AO under heavy data mismatch. PO4AO was trained with drastically different wind conditions. The PO4AO still delivers better contrast with small angular separations.