Paper
24 October 2012 Beacon-defined performance of adaptive optics
Author Affiliations +
Abstract
Achieving a minimal size laser spot (beacon) on a remote object is a major objective of the adaptive optics-based phase conjugations methods used in laser communications and directed energy systems. Achieving this goal not only requires a high quality conjugation of the laser beam wave front relative to the object-returned beacon beam, but also fulfillment of the reciprocity condition. The latter can be defined as precise matching of the intensities and wave fonts of two contrapropagating beams in each cross section along the propagation path. This condition is central for effectively focusing a laser beam on a remote object. Violation of the conditions of reciprocal propagation occurs, for example, when the receiving aperture is of limited size compared to the size of the object-returned beacon beam. Such size disparity between the receiving aperture and beacon returned beam results in decreased power density on the focused spot and reduced intensity of the target-returned beam. When the beacon wave is formed on a rough-surface object there is an additional decrease in the efficiency of the beam focusing. The paper provides a detailed discussion of these phenomena.
© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A. Khizhnyak, V. Markov, Joseph Chavez, and Shiang Liu "Beacon-defined performance of adaptive optics", Proc. SPIE 8517, Laser Communication and Propagation through the Atmosphere and Oceans, 85170Y (24 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.930631
Lens.org Logo
CITATIONS
Cited by 1 scholarly publication.
Advertisement
Advertisement
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission  Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace
KEYWORDS
Turbulence

Adaptive optics

Wave propagation

Receivers

Atmospheric propagation

Wavefronts

Laser beam propagation

Back to Top