解:过点$A$作$AD \perp BC,$垂足为$D。$设$AC = x,$则$AB = \sqrt{2}x。$
在$Rt\triangle ACD$中,$\angle C = 45^\circ,$
$\therefore AD = AC \cdot \sin 45^\circ = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}x,$$CD = AC \cdot \cos 45^\circ = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}x。$
在$Rt\triangle ABD$中,由勾股定理,得
$BD = \sqrt{AB^2 - AD^2} = \sqrt{(\sqrt{2}x)^2 - \left(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}x\right)^2} = \frac{\sqrt{6}}{2}x。$
$\because BC = \sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2},$
$\therefore BD + CD = \sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2},$即$\frac{\sqrt{6}}{2}x + \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}x = \sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2},$
解得$x = 2。$
$\therefore AC$的长为$2。$