Effects of Kolmogorov turbulence on optical cavity spectral response
Abstract
An aberrated wavefront incident upon an optical resonator will excite higher order spatial modes in the cavity, and the spectral width and distribution of these modes are indicative of the type and magnitude of the aberration. We apply this concept to atmospheric turbulence modeled by the Kolmogorov distribution. The spectral widths of the cavity transmission spectra are demonstrated via simulations to correspond to the structure constant that characterizes the variation in the optical index of refraction and thus the turbulence strength. Such a relationship can be harnessed to build a sensor for simply and quickly assessing optical turbulence strength.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 21, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1364/ao.424293
Entities
People
- Joseph J. Talghader
- Merlin L. Mah
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- University of Minnesota