Refraction and scintillation in the atmospheric surface layer

Stephen M. Doss-Hammel; Carl R. Zeisse

doi:10.1117/12.450633

9 December 2002 Refraction and scintillation in the atmospheric surface layer

Stephen M. Doss-Hammel, Carl R. Zeisse

Proceedings Volume 4821, Free-Space Laser Communication and Laser Imaging II; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.450633
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2002, Seattle, WA, United States

Abstract

An infrared or optical signal propagating along a line-of-sight horizontal path near the earth's surface can encounter substantial perturbations. There are two prominent factors which can generate fluctuations: first, refractive distortions are low-frequency modulations which can amplify or reduce a signal, and second, scintillation is a higher frequency fluctuation in signal intensity. We will discuss models developed to predict these effects, and associated field test efforts to corroborate and correct the model predictions. The field efforts include tests along horizontal near-surface paths over land and over the coastal ocean surface. Previous transmission field tests have revealed that slow-scale refractive effects can create very pronounced changes in the recorded one-minute average intensity of a source. We will show the results of an analysis of this signal based upon wavelet transforms and filtering. We focus on the detection of a detectable signature frequency of the variations in signal intensity that is based upon the Fresnel zone size. This Fresnel frequency is correlated with the location of the Kolmogorov power law scaling.

Citation Download Citation

Stephen M. Doss-Hammel and Carl R. Zeisse "Refraction and scintillation in the atmospheric surface layer", Proc. SPIE 4821, Free-Space Laser Communication and Laser Imaging II, (9 December 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.450633

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