Improved Approximations for Wave Structure Functions in a Turbulent Atmosphere
Abstract
The effect of a turbulent atmosphere on a plane wave propagating through it is described by the plane wave structure function. Its standard form is 6.88(r/r sub 0) sup 5/3, but this does not include the effect of a finite outer scale of turbulence and is 35% too large when r is 1% of the outer scale. There are much better approximations in the literature. In this report, they are rederived, extended, and presented in a convenient form for plane and spherical waves and for Kolmogorov and von Karman spectral densities of turbulence. The results are useful for propagation problems when outer scales are relatively small and for imaging systems with short exposure times. The effect of a finite outer scale on the structure function of the atmosphere's index of refraction is also addressed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA430057
Entities
People
- Robert L. Lucke
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory