We discuss the use of nematic liquid-crystal phase modulators (LCPMs) as repeatable, programmable optical disturbance test sources to simulate propagation through deep atmospheric turbulence in a laboratory setting. LCPMs can introduce controlled dynamic aberrations into optical systems at low cost, low complexity and high flexibility. Because they are small they can easily be inserted into the optical path of optics system. The programmed sequence can be modified to simulate changing atmospheric conditions and engagement scenarios. In this paper we describe phase screens generated with multiple LPCMs set up at different conjugate points in an optical path to simulate multiple atmospheric turbulence layers. The goal is to simulate deep turbulence optical propagations to test subsequent wave-front sensors and control algorithms. We investigate phenomena related to deep turbulence propagation such as phase-front branch points and optical field intensity fluctuations with medium to high Rytov number.

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David Dayton, Mark Spencer, Arthur Hassall, and Troy Rhoadarmer, "Distributed-volume optical disturbance generation in a scaled-laboratory environment using nematic liquid-crystal phase modulators," Proc. SPIE 10772, Unconventional and Indirect Imaging, Image Reconstruction, and Wavefront Sensing 2018, 107720H (Presented at SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications: August 23, 2018; Published: 18 September 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2319968.