Atmospheric Characterization for Laser Propagation

The design of high performance adaptive optics systems requires a knowledge of the characteristics of optical turbulence that directly impact system performance. Laser weapons designers require an understanding of worst case turbulence effects in order to develop optimal designs. Compensation systems for lasercom applications can only be evaluated with a characterization of optical fading statistics out to very small probabilities. A study of key parameters related to system performance, for a range of applications, from weak turbulence out to the strong turbulence regime will be performed. The results of this study will feed into a hardware design effort where a suite of measuring devices to determine key turbulence parameters as well as estimates of the Cn2 profile will be developed. BENEFIT: The most cost effective method of evaluating the performance of complex imaging and laser systems operating in atmospheric turbulence is with wave optics simulation. This requires an accurate characterization of the disturbance environment, in this case the optical turbulence effects. Advances in measuring and characterizing optical turbulence will provide several direct benefits to the field of adaptive optics compensation. Accurate turbulence characterization allows for adaptive optics design optimization and higher performance at lower cost. Turbulence monitors are also critical in site surveys. Finding sites with favorable turbulence characteristics is also important when seeking the highest performance at the lowest cost. This technology will be beneficial to both commercial and military interests.