It is well known that optical signals propagating through the atmosphere are subject to random fluctuations in phase
and amplitude. These fluctuations are caused by random temperature distributions in the atmosphere, which
manifests themselves as a random index of refraction changes along the propagation path. We introduce a simulation
method for modeling atmospheric turbulence effects, which is based on a split-step approach to numerically solve
the parabolic wave equation. Atmospheric turbulence effects are modeled by a number of phase screens. These
phase screens are generated on a numerical grid of finite size, which corresponds to a narrow spatial area of
atmospheric turbulence.
Strong turbulence measurements that are taken using real time optical wireless experimental setups are valuable
when studying the effects of turbulence regimes on a propagating optical beam. In any kind of FSO system, for us to
know the strength of the turbulence thus the refractive index structure constant, is beneficial for having an optimum
bandwidth of communication. Even if the FSO Link is placed very well-high-above the ground just to have weak
enough turbulence effects, there can be severe atmospheric conditions that can change the turbulence regime.
Having a successful theory that will cover all regimes will give us the chance of directly processing the image in
existing or using an additional hardware thus deciding on the optimum bandwidth of the communication line at
firsthand.
For this purpose, Strong Turbulence data has been collected using an outdoor optical wireless setup placed about 85
centimeters above the ground with an acceptable declination and a path length of about 250 meters inducing strong
turbulence to the propagating beam. Variations of turbulence strength estimation methods as well as frame image
analysis techniques are then been applied to the experimental data in order to study the effects of different
parameters on the result. Such strong turbulence data is compared with existing weak and intermediate turbulence
data. Aperture Averaging Factor for different turbulence regimes is also investigated.
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