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

    Authors

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

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    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

    Share

    COinS