Authors

D. C. Cowan;L. C. Andrews

Comments

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

Abbreviated Journal Title

Opt. Eng.

Keywords

flattened Gaussian beam; scintillation; fade probability; atmospheric; propagation; beam wander; spot size; FLAT-TOPPED BEAMS; LASER-BEAMS; FAR-FIELD; SPOT SIZE; PROPAGATION; ORDER; DIVERGENCE; Optics

Abstract

In an attempt to mitigate the effects of the atmosphere on the coherence of an optical (laser) beam, interest has recently been shown in changing the beam shape to determine if a different power distribution at the transmitter will reduce the effects of random fluctuations in the refractive index. Here, a model is developed for the field of a flattened Gaussian beam as it propagates through atmospheric turbulence, and the resulting effects on the scintillation of the beam and beam wander are determined. A comparison of these results is made with the like effects on a standard TEM(00) Gaussian beam. The theoretical results are verified by comparison with a computer simulation model for the flattened Gaussian beam (FGB). Further, a determination of the probability of fade and of mean fade time under weak fluctuation conditions is determined using the widely accepted lognormal model. Although this model has been shown to be somewhat optimistic when compared to results obtained in field tests, it has value here in allowing us to compare the effects of atmospheric conditions on the fade statistics of the FGB with those of the lowest order Gaussian beam.

Journal Title

Optical Engineering

Volume

47

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Language

English

First Page

14

WOS Identifier

WOS:000254522700029

ISSN

0091-3286

Download

Share

COinS