Atmospheric and Turbulence Monitoring Instrumentation

Abstract

Ongoing ONR and other DoD research within the Wave Propagation Research Group (WPRG) at the Townes Laser Institute (TISTEF) of the College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida (CREOL) focuses on the effects of atmospheric turbulence on optical systems operating through the atmosphere. The WPRG has developed and experimentally verified, mathematical models for free atmospheric turbulence for predicting the performance of optical systems such as laser communications, laser designators, laser radar and illumination imaging systems, and to support the identification and analysis of HEL systems. These models have been developed and experimentally verified for continuous isotropic turbulence along the propagation path. This proposal is to obtain additional and complementary instrumentation which will verify mathematical models for non-homogeneous and anisotropic atmospheric turbulence. Such turbulence is generated over non-uniform terrain, above mountains, in urban environments, around airborne vehicles, and local heat sources such as fires and vehicle engine exhaust. These conditions need to be modeled and understood in order to develop successful operational instrument systems. The instrumentation we propose to add to our current complement of instruments is described in this proposal, and includes a varied selection of instruments to provide extensive data, to support the math models created to describe and predict atmospheric conditions. These experimentally verified math models will permit the prediction of the operational characteristics of proposed new optical and laser-based systems.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Sep 11, 2020
Source ID
N000142012831

Entities

People

  • Robert Crabbs

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy
  • University of Central Florida Board of Trustees

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Research Science/Academic Research

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Quantum Science - Quantum Key Distribution