Propagation of Multiwavelength Laser Radiation through Atmospheric Turbulence
Abstract
This report reviews initial progress on a new program of investigation of scintillation and coherence effects for a laser-illuminated, noncooperative target as viewed through atmospheric turbulence. The application of the effort is in the prediction of turbulence effects on the operation of coherent optical adaptive transmitter (COAT) systems. Significant analytical progress is reviewed, including results for the mutual coherence function, variance and covariance of irradiance, spectra, and statistics for a coherently illuminated diffuse target. It is found that there are three pertinent covariance scales and six possible parameter realms, and that the normalized variance will be unity except in those cases when the target spot is sufficiently small as to constitute a quasi-point-source. The analysis is partially extended to a more complex target and to the incoherent case, and future analytical tasks and applications to real adaptive systems are outlined. The establishment of an experimental field facility is also described, which will be capable of measuring all pertinent quantities at both visible and middle-infrared wavelengths.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA024863
Entities
People
- J. Fred Holmes
- J. Richard Kerr
- Myung Lee
- Philip A. Pincus