Experiment to obtain optical turbulence information along a 2.33 km free-space laser propagation path from measurements of scintillation and focal spot displacement

Arnold Tunick

doi:10.1117/12.795519

20 August 2008 Experiment to obtain optical turbulence information along a 2.33 km free-space laser propagation path from measurements of scintillation and focal spot displacement

Arnold Tunick

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7090, Atmospheric Optics: Models, Measurements, and Target-in-the-Loop Propagation II; 70900G (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.795519
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Optical turbulence research contributes to improved laser communications and adaptive optics systems. This paper presents experimental measurements of scintillation and focal spot displacement to obtain optical turbulence information along a near-horizontal 2.33 km free-space laser propagation path. Calculated values for optical turbulence intensity (C²_n) and Fried parameter (r₀) are compared to scintillometer-based measurements for several cases in winter and spring. Scintillation index estimates from recorded signal intensities were corrected to account for aperture averaging. Optical measurements provided better estimates for C²_n and r₀ when a more incoherent laser source was used during the second part of the experiment (λ= 808 nm) in comparison to a more coherent laser source (λ= 1064 nm) used for the first part. Apparently, an calculation criterion for this kind of laser signal analysis is that the propagating light beacon be partially incoherent and uniformly illuminated across the transmitting aperture. Similarly, estimates of C²_n and r₀ based on focal spot displacement analysis were improved using the more incoherent laser source, particularly in strong turbulence conditions.

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Arnold Tunick "Experiment to obtain optical turbulence information along a 2.33 km free-space laser propagation path from measurements of scintillation and focal spot displacement", Proc. SPIE 7090, Atmospheric Optics: Models, Measurements, and Target-in-the-Loop Propagation II, 70900G (20 August 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.795519

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