Measuring optical turbulence parameters with a three-aperture receiver

David T. Wayne; Ronald L. Phillips; Larry C. Andrews; Frida Stromömqvist Vetelino; Brad Griffis; Michael R. Borbath; Darren J. Galus; Christopher Visone

doi:10.1117/12.735693

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25 September 2007 Measuring optical turbulence parameters with a three-aperture receiver

David T. Wayne, Ronald L. Phillips, Larry C. Andrews, Frida Stromömqvist Vetelino, Brad Griffis, Michael R. Borbath, Darren J. Galus, Christopher Visone

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Proceedings Volume 6709, Free-Space Laser Communications VII; 67090L (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.735693
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Intensity fluctuations from a 532nm CW laser source were collected over an outdoor 1km path, 2m above the ground, with three different receiving apertures. The scintillation index was found for each receiving aperture and recently developed theory for all regimes of optical turbulence was used to infer three atmospheric parameters, C_n², l₀, and L₀. Parallel to the three-aperture data collection was a commercial scintillometer unit which reported C_n² and crosswind speed. There was also a weather station positioned at the receiver side which provided point measurements for temperature and wind speed. The C_n² measurement obtained from the commercial scintillometer was used to infer l₀, L₀, and the scintillation index. Those values were then compared to the inferred atmospheric parameters from the experimental data. Finally, the optimal aperture sizes for data collection with the three-aperture receiver were determined.

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David T. Wayne, Ronald L. Phillips, Larry C. Andrews, Frida Stromömqvist Vetelino, Brad Griffis, Michael R. Borbath, Darren J. Galus, and Christopher Visone "Measuring optical turbulence parameters with a three-aperture receiver", Proc. SPIE 6709, Free-Space Laser Communications VII, 67090L (25 September 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.735693

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