Nonlinear self-channeling of high-power lasers through controlled atmospheric turbulence
Abstract
High-power laser beams are demonstrated to resist the spreading effects of atmospheric turbulence over a 180-m-long path. This “nonlinear self-channeling” behavior occurs when nonlinear self-focusing balances diffraction, maintaining the beam radius at a size smaller than the inner scale or coherence radius of turbulence, over the length of propagation. Nonlinear self-channeling is shown to persist into the strong-turbulence regime. However, the turbulence-induced increase in beam wander remains unchanged.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 20, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1364/josab.384137
Entities
People
- Andreas Schmitt-Sody
- Dmitri Kaganovich
- Gregory DiComo
- Jennifer Elle
- Joseph Peñano
- Michael Helle
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Naval Research Laboratory