Impact of the first stage gain on the SAXO+ performance and the second stage DM. Upper graph: Criteria C(3, 5) (averaged normalized intensity between 3 and 5 λ/D angular distance) versus the first stage gain. Lower graph: maximum actuator displacement during the exposure versus the first stage gain. Science case: bright-3, seeing = 0.8″, and τ₀ = 3 ms. PWFS modulation radius: 3 λ_WFS/D. Imaging wavelength: λ = 1.67 μm.