Laser Irradiance in the Sea: Theory and Experiment

Abstract

Laser beam spreading due to the air/sea interface, volume scattering, and initial beam divergence is modeled. Beam steering is considered for the case in which the laser beam diameter is small compared to the length of the refracting wave. An expression is developed for the irradiance as a function of depth into the ocean. A comparison of the terms in this expression shows that the surface spreading effect is small compared with bulk scattering. Wavetank experiments were performed. The height, slope, and frequency content of wind- driven capillary waves are reported for wind speeds in the range 2.2 m/sec to 7. 6 m/sec.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1978
Accession Number
ADA072601

Entities

People

  • Gerald Ferguson
  • Lloyd C. Bobb
  • Michael Rankin

Organizations

  • Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Beam Steering
  • Capillary Waves
  • Distribution Functions
  • Electron Tubes
  • Frequency
  • Geometry
  • Gravity Waves
  • High Angles
  • Laser Beams
  • Lasers
  • Light Sources
  • Measurement
  • Photomultiplier Tubes
  • Probability
  • Scattering
  • Waveforms
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy