Experimental study and numerical simulation of laser beams propagation through the turbulent aerojet

A detailed experimental study of spatial characteristics for laser beams propagating through the turbulent aerojet has been performed. The obtained results for radiation wavelengths of 0.53, 1.06, and 10.6 microm were used for the development of the numerical mathematical model for beam propagation through an extreme turbulent medium. The combination of parameters and algorithms for the numerical model was determined, which made it possible to obtain computational laser beam spatial characteristics that agreed quite well with the experimental data. Good agreement between the results points to the possibility, in principle, to regard the central jet area as a medium locally homogeneous in the statistical sense and anisotropic on the turbulent outer scales.     

Scanning lidar with a coupled radar safety system

A small scanning three-wavelength lidar system at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, has been used since 1992 to make atmospheric measurements on stratospheric and upper tropospheric aerosols and on the evolution of aircraft exhaust plumes. Many of these measurements have been made away from the zenith, and, to reduce the hazard to air traffic produced by the laser beam, a radar safety device has been installed. The radar application is original in that the radar beam is made collinear with the laser beam by use of a dichroic mirror that transmits the laser radiation and reflects the microwaves. This mirror is inserted into the outgoing optical path prior to the radiation from both the radar and the laser passing through the independent scanning unit. Tests of the complete system show that the lidar and radar beams remain collocated as they are scanned and that the radar can be used to inhibit the laser prior to an aircraft passing through the beam.     

Average intensity and spreading of cosh-Gaussian laser beams in the turbulent atmosphere

The average intensity and spreading of cosh-Gaussian laser beams in the turbulent atmosphere are examined. Our research is based principally on formulating the average-intensity profile at the receiver plane for cosh-Gaussian excitation. The limiting cases of our formulation for the average intensity are found to reduce correctly to the existing Gaussian beam wave result in turbulence and the cosh-Gaussian beam result in free space (in the absence of turbulence). The average intensity and the broadening of the cosh-Gaussian beam wave after it propagates in the turbulent atmosphere are numerically evaluated versus source size, beam displacement, link length, structure constant, and two wavelengths of 0.85 and 1.55 microm, which are most widely used in currently employed free-space-optical links. Results indicate that in turbulence the beam is widened beyond its free-space diffraction values. At the receiver plane, analogous to the case of free space, this diffraction eventually leads to transformation of the cosh-Gaussian beam into an oscillatory average-intensity profile with a Gaussian envelope.     

Evolution properties of partially coherent four-petal Gaussian beams in oceanic turbulence

Based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral formula, the analytical expressions for partially coherent four-petal Gaussian beam propagating in oceanic turbulence are derived, and the influences of coherence length, beam order N and the parameters of oceanic turbulence (the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy per unit mass of fluid, the rate of dissipation of mean square temperature and the relative strength of temperature and salinity fluctuations) on average intensity properties are investigated using numerical examples in detail. The results show that the beam with the higher beam order N or coherence length will lose its initial four-petal profiles slower. It is also indicated that the beam will evolve into a Gauss-like beam more rapidly with increasing oceanic turbulence strength. The results have the potential application in underwater laser communication using a partially coherent four-petal Gaussian beam.     

Spectral dependence of holographic grating formation in electrolytically coloured potassium bromide crystals

Electrolytically coloured KBr crystals were exposed at elevated temperature by irradiating them with a single Gaussian laser beam and by recording volume holographic gratings. Bleaching took place through F-X colour centre conversion when wavelengths 514.5, 647.1, and 676.4 nm were used. A different bleaching mechanism was found in most cases when HeNe laser line 632.8 nm was used. F centre electrons were captured by traps which were formed during heat treatments of the sample. Efficient nonlinear absorption gratings could be created using F-trap conversion.     

Propagation of partially coherent Lorentz and Lorentz–Gauss beams through a paraxial ABCD optical system in a turbulent atmosphere

Based on the generalized Huygens–Fresnel integral, propagation of partially coherent Lorentz and Lorentz–Gauss beams through a paraxial ABCD optical system in a turbulent atmosphere was investigated. Analytical propagation formulae were derived for the cross-spectral densities of partially coherent Lorentz and Lorentz–Gauss beams. As an application example, the focusing properties of partially coherent Gaussian, Lorentz and Lorentz–Gauss beams in a turbulent atmosphere and in free space were studied numerically and comparatively. It is found that the focusing properties of such beams are closely related to the initial coherence length and the structure constant of turbulence. By choosing a suitable initial coherence length, a partially coherent Lorentz beam can be focused more tightly than a Gaussian or Lorentz–Gauss beam in free space or in a turbulent atmosphere with small structure constant at the geometrical focal plane.     

Optimal control of laser beams for propagation through a turbulent medium

Concerning the problem of transmitting a laser beam from one telescope to another telescope through a turbulent medium, it is established that using an adaptive optical system on both telescopes to precompensate an outgoing laser beam based on the aberrations measured on the received laser beam leads to an iteration that maximizes the transmission (neglecting attenuation losses) of laser power between the telescopes. Simulation results are presented demonstrating the effectiveness of this technique when the telescopes are equipped with either phase-only or full-wave compensation systems. Simulation results are shown that indicate that for a uniform distribution of the strength of turbulence, 95% transmission of laser power is attained when both telescopes can achieve full-wave compensation provided that the aperture diameter D of the two telescopes is greater than twice the Fresnel length square root of lambdaL, where A is the wavelength of propagation and L is the distance between the two telescopes.     

Simulation of temperature distribution in single metallic powder layer for laser micro-sintering

Simulation of temperature distribution in single metallic powder layer for laser micro-sintering (LMS) using finite element analysis (FEA) has been proposed, taking into account the adoption of ANSYS μMKS system of units, the transition from powder to solid and the utilization of moving laser beam power with a Gaussian distribution. By exploiting these characteristics a more accurate model could be achieved. The effects of the process parameters, such as laser beam diameter, laser power and laser scan speed on the temperature distribution and molten pool dimensions have been preliminarily investigated. It is shown that temperature increases with the laser power and decreases with the scan speed monotonously. For the laser beam diameter during single-track, the maximum temperature of the powder bed increases with the decrease in the laser beam diameter, but far from the center of the laser beam area, the temperature increases with the laser beam diameter. The molten pool dimensions in LMS are much less than that in classical selective laser sintering (SLS) process. Both molten pool length and width decrease with the laser beam diameter and the laser scan speed, but increase with the laser power. The molten pool length is always larger than the molten pool width. Furthermore, the center of molten pool is slightly shifted for the laser multi-track.     

Two-deformable-mirror concept for correcting scintillation effects in laser beam projection through the turbulent atmosphere

A two-deformable-mirror concept for correcting scintillation effects in laser beam projection through the turbulent atmosphere is presented. This system uses a deformable mirror and a Fourier-transforming mirror to adjust the amplitude of the wave front in the telescope pupil, similar to kinoforms used in laser beam shaping. A second deformable mirror is used to correct the phase of the wave front before it leaves the aperture. The phase applied to the deformable mirror used for controlling the beam amplitude is obtained with a technique based on the Fienup phase-retrieval algorithm. Simulations of propagation through a single turbulent layer sufficiently distant from the beacon observation and laser beam transmission aperture to cause scintillation shows that, for an ideal deformable-mirror system, this field-conjugation approach improves the on-axis field amplitude by a factor of approximately 1.4 to 1.5 compared with a conventional phase-only correction system.     

Comparison of near-forward light scattering on oceanic turbulence and particles

We examine and compare near-forward light scattering that is caused by turbulence and typical particulate assemblages in the ocean. The near-forward scattering by particles was calculated using Mie theory for homogeneous spheres and particle size distributions representative of natural assemblages in the ocean. Direct numerical simulations of a passive scalar with Prandtl number 7 mixed by homogeneous turbulence were used to represent temperature fluctuations and resulting inhomogeneities in the refractive index of water. Light scattering on the simulated turbulent flow was calculated using the geometrical-optics approximation. We found that the smallest temperature scales contribute the most to scattering, and that scattering on turbulence typically dominates over scattering on particles for small angles as large as 0.1 degrees . The scattering angle deviation that is due to turbulence for a light beam propagating over a 0.25-m path length in the oceanic water can be as large as 0.1 degrees . In addition, we carried out a preliminary laboratory experiment that illustrates the differences in the near-forward scattering on refractive-index inhomogeneities and particles.     

BER evaluations for multimode beams in underwater turbulence

Abstract

In underwater optical communication links, bit error rate (BER) is an important performance criterion. For this purpose, the effects of oceanic turbulence on multimode laser beam incidences are studied and compared in terms of average BER (<BER>), which is related to the scintillation index. Based on the log-normal distribution, <BER> is analysed for underwater turbulence parameters, including the rate of dissipation of the mean squared temperature, the rate of dissipation of the turbulent kinetic energy, the parameter that determines the relative strength of temperature and salinity in driving index fluctuations, the Kolmogorov microscale length and other link parameters such as link length, wavelength and laser source size. It is shown that use of multimode improves the system performance of optical wireless communication systems operating in an underwater medium. For all the investigated multimode beams, decreasing link length, source size, the relative strength of temperature and salinity in driving the index fluctuations, the rate of dissipation of the mean squared temperature and Kolmogorov microscale length improve the <BER>. Moreover, lower <BER> values are obtained for the increasing wavelength of operation and the rate of dissipation of the turbulent kinetic energy in underwater turbulence.     

Indentation resistance of sandwich beams

High-order sandwich beam theory is used to model the local deformation under the central indentor for sandwich beams loaded under three-point bending. ‘High-order' refers to the non-linear variations of in-plane and vertical displacements through the height of the core which the model incorporates. The analysis is elastic, which is appropriate to describe the beam response up to peak load for the material combination of GFRP skins and Nomex honeycomb core which is the focus of this paper. Reasonable agreement is found between theoretical predictions of the displacement field under the indentor and experimental measurements using a beam with GFRP skins and Nomex honeycomb core. By using the model to consider the way in which different wavelengths of sinusoidal pressure loading on the top skin are transmitted to the core, a spreading length scale λ is introduced. λ, which is a function of the beam material and geometric properties, characterises the length over which a load on the top surface of a beam is spread out by the skin. Calculations of the effect of roller diameter on indentation behaviour illustrate the importance of this length scale. When λ is small compared with the roller radius R, corresponding to a flexible skin, the contact load at the roller-skin interface is transmitted relatively unchanged to the core. Conversely, when λ/R is greater than about 0.25, corresponding to a relatively rigid skin, the load from the roller is spread out by the skin and the pressure in the core is distributed over a length of the order of λ.     

Dual-channel heterodyne measurements of atmospheric phase fluctuations

A dual-channel fiber-coupled laser heterodyne system operating at a 1.55-microm wavelength is used to investigate phase fluctuations induced on a laser beam by propagation through turbulent air. Two receivers are used to characterize spatial and temporal variations produced by a turbulent layer of air in the laboratory. The system is also used for measurements through extended turbulence along an 80-m outdoor atmospheric path. Phase structure functions, power spectral densities, and cross correlations are presented.     

Laser heterodyne method for high-resolution gas-density measurements

A new method for noncontact, high-resolution measurement of gas density is described. The method uses a two-frequency Zeeman-split He-Ne laser and cumulative phase-measuring electronics. The measurement is resolved in two dimensions and provides density that is averaged only along the length of the laser beam that passes through the test section. The technique is based on highly accurate measurement of the optical path-length change of the laser beam as it passes through a test cell (in principle, to within 0.001lambda, where lambda is the wavelength of the laser). The technique also provides a very large dynamic range (again, in principle, up to 10(10)), which makes the method additionally attractive. Although the optical path length through the test section is directly related to the index of refraction, and hence to the density of the gas, the method can also be used to measure temperature (if the gas pressure is known) or pressure (if the temperature is known).     

Multilateration with the wide-angle airborne laser ranging system: positioning precision and atmospheric effects

Numerical simulations based on previously validated models for the wide-angle airborne laser ranging system are used here for assessing the precision in coordinate estimates of ground-based cube-corner retroreflectors (CCR's). It is shown that the precision can be optimized to first order as a function of instrument performance, number of laser shots (LS's), and network size. Laser beam divergence, aircraft altitude, and CCR density are only second-order parameters, provided that the number of echoes per LS is greater than 20. Thus precision in the vertical is ~1 mm, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 50 at nadir, a 10-km altitude, a 20 degrees beam divergence, and ~5 x 10(3) measurements. Scintillation and fair-weather cumulus clouds usually have negligible influence on the estimates. Laser biases and path delay are compensated for by adjustment of aircraft offsets. The predominant atmospheric effect is with mesoscale nonuniform horizontal temperature gradients, which might lead to biases near 0.5 mm.     

Multifractality of laser beam spatial intensity in a turbulent medium

We present the results of a laser beam passing through a turbulent medium. First we measure the geometric parameters and the spatial coherence of the beam as a function of wind velocities. A multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis algorithm is applied to determine the multifractal scaling behavior of the intensity patterns. The measurements are fitted with models used in the analysis of river runoff records. We show the surprising result that the multifractality decreases when the spatial coherence of the laser is decreased. Universal scaling properties could be applied to the spatial characterization of a laser propagating in a turbulent medium or random medium.     

飞行器周边气体折射率变化对激光测量影响的模拟研究

在利用激光测量飞行器姿态参数的实验中,当测量光线穿过飞行器所产生的射流场时,场内气体光折射率不同而使光路发生弯曲,从而对测量结果造成影响.本文根据空气射流动力学原理,对飞行器周围射流场内气体的光折射率分布规律进行分析,建立简化模型,并以此得出影响测量误差的相应因素,估算出测量光束弯曲的角度偏差,从而对测量结果进行修正;同时可以提高系统的测量精确性,对测量系统的设计有所帮助.模拟试验结果表明,该计算方法可以有效的计算出测量结果的误差.     

Propagation properties of partially coherent radially polarized beam in a turbulent atmosphere

Based on the Huygens–Fresnel principle and the unified theory of coherence and polarization of partially coherent beams, we investigate the propagation characteristics of a partially coherent radially polarized doughnut (PCRPD) beam in a turbulent atmosphere. It is found that, after propagating through a turbulent atmosphere, the doughnut beam spot is changed into a circular Gaussian beam. Moreover, the degree of coherence, the degree of polarization and the degree of cross-polarization of the beam will change on propagation, and this change is dependent upon the degree of coherence of the source and atmospheric turbulence.     

Simultaneous coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering and two-dimensional laser Rayleigh thermometry in a contained technical swirl combustor

The simultaneous application of vibrational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and the two-dimensional (2D) UV laser Rayleigh technique is reported for the investigation of a highly turbulent swirl frame inside a contained technical combustor. The CARS technique has been used to determine accurate temperature values at one point within the 2D Rayleigh-probed combustion field. These values were necessary to normalize the Rayleigh data to overcome influences of absorption effects along the detection path of the Rayleigh-scattered light through the exhaust gas volume and by the sealing window of the combustion chamber. At several different downstream positions, 500 simultaneous measurements with the point and with the 2D technique were performed to cover the whole combustion field. These data can be used for both the evaluation of 2D temperature structures in single frames and for the calculation of temperature probability density functions from the Rayleigh data at one single camera pixel over 500 frames. With this information, characterization of a highly turbulent flame is possible.     

Ultraviolet characterization of integrating spheres

We have studied the performance of polytetrafluoroethylene integrating spheres in the ultraviolet (UV) region with wavelengths as short as 200 nm. Two techniques were used for this study; first, the spectral throughput of an integrating sphere irradiated by a deuterium lamp was analyzed by a monochromator. Second, a UV laser beam was directed into an integrating sphere, and spectrally dispersed laser induced fluorescence was studied. Significant absorption and fluorescence features were observed in the UV region and attributed to the contamination in the integrating sphere. We demonstrate that integrating spheres are easily contaminated by environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emitted from engine exhaust. Baking of the contaminated integrating sphere can reverse some but not all of the effects caused by contaminants. The implications for using integrating spheres for UV measurement are discussed.