Recent developments of optical turbulence measurement techniques

Frank D. Eaton

doi:10.1117/12.604904

25 May 2005 Recent developments of optical turbulence measurement techniques (Invited Paper)

Frank D. Eaton

Proceedings Volume 5793, Atmospheric Propagation II; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.604904
Event: Defense and Security, 2005, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

With the advent of new developments in tracking, pointing, and compensation of laser beams over the past several years, a requirement has been established for increasing knowledge of optical turbulence along the propagation path. This has stimulated the development of new methodologies to sense the refractive index structure parameter (C_n²) and derived parameters such as the transverse coherence length (r_O), the isoplanatic angle (θ_O), and the Rytov variance (σ_χ²). A historical perspective of these methodologies and instrumentation is presented and both in situ and remote sensing techniques are discussed. Recent designs of r_O meters are shown. Of particular interest is the development of techniques to derive turbulence parameters such as C_n², the eddy dissipation rate (ε), the inner scale (l_O), and the outer scale (L_O). Observational results are discussed using sodar and radar of phenomena generating turbulence including gravity wave activity, jet streams, Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities, convection, and frontal activity. Both frequency modulated-continuous wave (FMCW) and mesosphere-stratosphere-troposphere (MST) radar are discussed. New techniques and results are shown examining if the turbulent atmosphere is truly Kolmogorov (how often is the structure function represented by the r^2/3 law), stationary, isotropic, and homogeneous. Emerging techniques for sensing turbulence such as optical path profilers and lidar are discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Frank D. Eaton "Recent developments of optical turbulence measurement techniques (Invited Paper)", Proc. SPIE 5793, Atmospheric Propagation II, (25 May 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.604904

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