Efficient physics-based predictive 3D image modeling and simulation of optical atmospheric refraction phenomena

Colin N. Reinhardt; Stephen M. Hammel; Dimitris Tsintikidis

doi:10.1117/12.2239807

19 September 2016 Efficient physics-based predictive 3D image modeling and simulation of optical atmospheric refraction phenomena

Colin N. Reinhardt, Stephen M. Hammel, Dimitris Tsintikidis

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9979, Laser Communication and Propagation through the Atmosphere and Oceans V; 99790S (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2239807
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2016, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We present some preliminary results and discussion of our ongoing effort to develop a prototype volumetric atmospheric optical refraction simulator which uses 3D nonlinear ray-tracing and state-of-art physics-based rendering techniques. The tool will allow simulation of optical curved-ray propagation through nonlinear refractivity gradient profiles in volumetric atmospheric participating media, and the generation of radiometrically accurate images of the resulting atmospheric refraction phenomena, including inferior and superior mirages, over-the-horizon viewing conditions, looming and sinking, towering and stooping of distant objects. The ability to accurately model and predict atmospheric optical refraction conditions and phenomena is important in both defense and commercial applications. Our nonlinear refractive ray-trace method is currently CPU-parallelized and is well-suited for GPU compute implementation.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Colin N. Reinhardt, Stephen M. Hammel, and Dimitris Tsintikidis "Efficient physics-based predictive 3D image modeling and simulation of optical atmospheric refraction phenomena", Proc. SPIE 9979, Laser Communication and Propagation through the Atmosphere and Oceans V, 99790S (19 September 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2239807

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