Passive optical monitor for atmospheric turbulence and windspeed

Mena F. Stell; Christopher I. Moore; Harris R. Burris; Michele R. Suite; Michael J. Vilcheck; Mark A. Davis; Rita Mahon; Eun Oh; William S. Rabinovich; G. Charmaine Gilbreath; William J. Scharpf; Anne E. Reed

doi:10.1117/12.508051

27 January 2004 Passive optical monitor for atmospheric turbulence and windspeed

Mena F. Stell, Christopher I. Moore, Harris R. Burris, Michele R. Suite, Michael J. Vilcheck, Mark A. Davis, Rita Mahon, Eun Oh, William S. Rabinovich, G. Charmaine Gilbreath, William J. Scharpf, Anne E. Reed

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5160, Free-Space Laser Communication and Active Laser Illumination III; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.508051
Event: Optical Science and Technology, SPIE's 48th Annual Meeting, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Measurement of the atmospheric index of refraction structure constant (Cn^2) is critical for predicting the performance of a free-space optical laser communication (FSO lasercomm) link. A Cn^2 monitor based on angle-of-arrival (AOA) fluctuations has been built for characterization of atmospheric conditions at the NRL FSO Lasercomm Test Facility across the Chesapeake Bay. The monitor used existing lights in various locations as point sources for determining AOA fluctuations. Real time analysis of the AOA fluctuations was performed to determine the power spectrum of the fluctuations every few seconds. This additional power spectrum information allows much greater understanding of atmospheric conditions including estimation of average wind speed based on frequency shifts in the power spectrum distribution. The performance of the monitor was tested over short paths by comparison to a commercial scintillometer. In addition, the monitor was used at other sites to determine atmospheric conditions at a variety of locations. Results of these experiments are presented.

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Mena F. Stell, Christopher I. Moore, Harris R. Burris, Michele R. Suite, Michael J. Vilcheck, Mark A. Davis, Rita Mahon, Eun Oh, William S. Rabinovich, G. Charmaine Gilbreath, William J. Scharpf, and Anne E. Reed "Passive optical monitor for atmospheric turbulence and windspeed", Proc. SPIE 5160, Free-Space Laser Communication and Active Laser Illumination III, (27 January 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.508051

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