The Differential Phase Experiment: experimental concept, design analysis, and data reduction analysis

Glenn A. Tyler; Terry J. Brennan; Stephen L. Browne; Robert H. Dueck; Michael S. Lodin; Phillip H. Roberts; Jeffrey L. Vaughn

doi:10.1117/12.281028

6 August 1997 The Differential Phase Experiment: experimental concept, design analysis, and data reduction analysis

Glenn A. Tyler, Terry J. Brennan, Stephen L. Browne, Robert H. Dueck, Michael S. Lodin, Phillip H. Roberts, Jeffrey L. Vaughn

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3065, Laser Radar Technology and Applications II; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.281028
Event: AeroSense '97, 1997, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

This paper describes the differential phase experiment (DPE) which formed a major part of the ABLE ACE suite of experiments conducted by the Air Force. The work described covers the rationale for the experiment, the basic experimental concept, the analysis of the differential phase, the optical and software design analysis, a discussion of the polarization scrambling characteristics of the optics, calibration of the equipment and a presentation of some of the major results of the data reduction effort to date. The DPE was a propagation experiment conducted between two aircraft flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet whose purpose was to measure the phase difference between two beams propagating at slightly different angels through the atmosphere. A four bin polarization interferometer was used to measure the differential phase. Due to the high level of scintillation that was presented branch points were present in the phase function. Rytov theory, wave optics simulation and the experimental measurements are in general agreement. Self consistency checks that were performed on the data indicate a high level of confidence in the results. Values of C_n² that are consistent with the measurements of the differential phase agree with simultaneous scintillometer measurement taken long the same path in levels of turbulence where the scintillometer is not saturated. These differential phase based C_n² estimates do not appear to saturate as is typical of scintillometer measurements and appear to extend the range over which high levels of C_n² can be estimated. In addition the differential phase and anisoplanatic Strehl computed from the data is consistent with Rytov theory and wave optics simulations.

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Glenn A. Tyler, Terry J. Brennan, Stephen L. Browne, Robert H. Dueck, Michael S. Lodin, Phillip H. Roberts, and Jeffrey L. Vaughn "The Differential Phase Experiment: experimental concept, design analysis, and data reduction analysis", Proc. SPIE 3065, Laser Radar Technology and Applications II, (6 August 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.281028

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KEYWORDS

Polarization

Calibration

Phase measurement

Turbulence

Phase shifts

Beam splitters

Optical simulations

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