Laboratory simulation of atmospheric turbulence-induced optical wavefront distortion

✍ Scribed by Travis S Taylor; Don A Gregory

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 314 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0030-3992
• DOI: 10.1016/s0030-3992(02)00095-6

✦ Synopsis

Real-time liquid crystal television-based technique for simulating optical wavefront distortion due to atmospheric turbulence is presented and demonstrated. A liquid crystal television (LCTV) operating in the "phase mostly" mode was used as an array of spatially correlated phase delays. A movie of the arrays in motion was then generated and displayed on the LCTV. The turbulence simulation system was veriÿed by passing a collimated and doubled diode pumped Nd : YVO4 laser beam (532 nm) through the transparent LCTV screen. The beam was then passed through a lens and the power spectra of the turbulence information carrying beam was detected as a measure of the far-ÿeld distribution. The same collimated laser beam, without the LCTV, was also transmitted down an open-air range and the power spectra detected as a measure of a real far-ÿeld distribution. Accepted turbulence parameters were measured for both arrangements and then compared.