Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Optics

Refractive index

2006

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Physics

Comparison Of Climatological Optical Turbulence Profiles To Standard, Statistical And Numerical Models Using Heleeos, Liesebet E. Gravley Mar 2006

Comparison Of Climatological Optical Turbulence Profiles To Standard, Statistical And Numerical Models Using Heleeos, Liesebet E. Gravley

Theses and Dissertations

Optical turbulence within earth’s atmosphere plays a significant role in electromagnetic radiation propagation from a high energy laser. The index of refraction structure constant, Cn2, characterizes turbulent spatial fluctuations due to temperature gradients. These changes in the index of refraction affect the intensity of the laser wave front on its intended target. It is important to characterize this parameter throughout the atmosphere, the boundary layer and above, for its applications regarding the Airborne Laser (ABL) and the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL). There are several ways to obtain values of optical turbulence, including standard and statistical models, physically-based numerical models, and …