Experimental results on the enhanced backscatter phenomenon and its dynamics

Chensheng Wu; William Nelson; Jonathan Ko; Christopher C. Davis

doi:10.1117/12.2062952

7 October 2014 Experimental results on the enhanced backscatter phenomenon and its dynamics

Chensheng Wu, William Nelson, Jonathan Ko, Christopher C. Davis

Proceedings Volume 9224, Laser Communication and Propagation through the Atmosphere and Oceans III; 922412 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2062952
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Enhanced backscatter effects have long been predicted theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. The reciprocity of a turbulent channel generates a group of paired rays with identical trajectory and phase information that leads to a region in phase space with double intensity and scintillation index. Though simulation work based on phase screen models has demonstrated the existence of the phenomenon, few experimental results have been published describing its characteristics, and possible applications of the enhanced backscatter phenomenon are still unclear. With the development of commercially available high powered lasers and advanced cameras with high frame rates, we have successfully captured the enhanced backscatter effects from different reflection surfaces. In addition to static observations, we have also tilted and pre-distorted the transmitted beam at various frequencies to track the dynamic properties of the enhanced backscatter phenomenon to verify its possible application in guidance and beam and image correction through atmospheric turbulence. In this paper, experimental results will be described, and discussions on the principle and applications of the phenomenon will be included. Enhanced backscatter effects are best observed in certain levels of turbulence (C_n ²≈10^-13 m^-2/3), and show significant potential for providing self-guidance in beam correction that doesn’t introduce additional costs (unlike providing a beacon laser). Possible applications of this phenomenon include tracking fast moving object with lasers, long distance (>1km) alignment, and focusing a high-power corrected laser beam over long distances.

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Chensheng Wu, William Nelson, Jonathan Ko, and Christopher C. Davis "Experimental results on the enhanced backscatter phenomenon and its dynamics", Proc. SPIE 9224, Laser Communication and Propagation through the Atmosphere and Oceans III, 922412 (7 October 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2062952

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KEYWORDS

Turbulence

Adaptive optics

Backscatter

Cameras

Retroreflectors

Beam splitters

Mirrors

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