EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION OF THE TURBULENT EFFECTS ON LASER BEAM PROPAGATION IN SPACE

Abstract

In this work, we have modified an existing experimental setup to fully classify the thermal effects on a laser beam propagating in air. Improvements made to the setup include a new, more powerful laser, a precision designed turbulence delivery system, an imbedded pressure sensor, and a platform for height adjustability between the laser beam and the turbulence model. The setup was not only able to reproduce previous results exactly but also allowed new data for the turbulence strength C2n, the Rytov variance (scintillation) and the coherence diameter (Fried’s parameter) to be successfully measured. Analysis of the produced interferograms has been discussed using fast Fourier transforms. The results confirm, within the Kolmogorov regime, that phase and intensity fluctuations increase relative to temperature. The turbulent region exhibited very strong disturbances, in the range of 1.1 × 10–12 m–2/3 to 2.7 × 10–12 m–2/3. In spite of the strong turbulence strength, scintillation proved otherwise, since the condition for a weak turbulence environment was determined in the laboratory and a low scintillation index was to be expected. This is as a result of the relatively short propagation distances achieved in the laboratory. In the open atmosphere, path lengths extend over vast distances and in order for turbulent effects to be realized, the turbulence model must generate stronger turbulence. The model was, therefore, able to demonstrate its ability to fully quantify and determine the thermal turbulence effects on a propagating laser beam.