Optical Propagation Effects Simulations

A concept is proposed for the laboratory simulation of optical propagation effects including transmission and turbulence. Discrete optical components are used to produce the effects of greatest importance to many optical system: extinction, scintillation, jitter, and image distortion/beam spreading. This approach avoids the need for distributed turbulence. Each effect can be independently established allowing a broad range of conditions to be simulated. Furthermore this approach allows each effect to be carefully controlled providing a quantitative and repeatable simulation. Another feature of the concept is that recorded field data can be used to control the simulation allowing observed. real conditions to be simulated in the laboratory. Three tasks are included in the program. The first addresses simulation requirements based on the careful analyses of selected optical systems and operational scenarios. The second will assess the available hardware which can be used to build the simulator. The final task will develop, in some detail, a preliminary design for a system which can be integrated into an existing Navy hardware in the loop laboratory facility. This design and a development plan for the implementation of the simulator in a successor Phase II program will be the principle products of this feasibility study.