Uplink laser propagation measurements through the sea surface, haze, and clouds

Tom G. Kaye; Roger J. Nies; Michael G. Lovern

doi:10.1117/12.138845

22 December 1992 Uplink laser propagation measurements through the sea surface, haze, and clouds

Tom G. Kaye, Roger J. Nies, Michael G. Lovern

Proceedings Volume 1749, Optics of the Air-Sea Interface: Theory and Measurement; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.138845
Event: San Diego '92, 1992, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

An airborne optical receiver (AOR) was developed and tested to investigate the propagation and reception of optical communications uplinks from a submerged laser source to an overflying fleet aircraft. The AOR was flown in a P-3C Orion aircraft for an at-sea test off the southern California coast in August 1990. A green laser transmitter was suspended from the research platform FLIP at depths of 15 to 45 m. During six nights of operations, the AOR received the laser light at various test geometries and through clear and cloudy conditions. This represents the first optical uplink cloud experiment at visible wavelengths. Results show that optical pulses in clouds are significantly more forward-scattered than modeled. The results can be explained by Mie scattering theory. Measured cloud attenuation and pulse stretching agreed with an existing optical propagation model. Significant attenuation and signal spreading due to haze and fog was measured and compared with theory.

Citation Download Citation

Tom G. Kaye, Roger J. Nies, and Michael G. Lovern "Uplink laser propagation measurements through the sea surface, haze, and clouds", Proc. SPIE 1749, Optics of the Air-Sea Interface: Theory and Measurement, (22 December 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.138845

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