Title

Precision Pointing And Tracking Through Random Media By Exploitation Of The Enhanced Backscatter Phenomenon

Authors

Authors

J. E. Harvey; S. P. Reddy;R. L. Phillips

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Appl. Optics

Keywords

precision pointing and tracking; reciprocal path scattering; enhanced; backscatter; RANDOM-PHASE SCREEN; DOUBLE PASSAGE; POLARIZATION; PARTICLES; LIGHT; Optics

Abstract

The active illumination of a target through a turbulent medium with a monostatic transmitter-receiver results in a naturally occurring conjugate wave caused by reciprocal scattering paths that experience identical phase variations. This reciprocal path-scattering phenomenon produces an enhanced backscatter in the retroverse direction (precisely along the boresight of the pointing telescope). A dual aperture causes this intensity enhancement to take the form of Young's interference fringes. Interference fringes produced by the reciprocal path-scattering phenomenon are temporally stable even in the presence of time-varying turbulence. Choosing the width-to-separation ratio of the dual apertures appropriately and utilizing orthogonal polarizations to suppress the time-varying common-path scattered radiation allow one to achieve interferometric sensitivity in pointing accuracy through a random medium or turbulent atmosphere. Computer simulations are compared with laboratory experimental data. This new precision pointing and tracking technique has potential applications in ground-to-space laser communications, laser power beaming to satellites, and theater missile defense scenarios. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America

Journal Title

Applied Optics

Volume

35

Issue/Number

21

Publication Date

1-1-1996

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Language

English

First Page

4220

Last Page

4228

WOS Identifier

WOS:A1996VA60800032

ISSN

0003-6935

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