Abstract
The physical properties of the ocean place certain limits on the optical wavelengths which can be used in undersea communications. The so-called Jerlov minimum1 is between 460 and 480 nm. Laser transmitters operating out of this range suffer increasing attenuation at greater and lesser wavelengths. For example, a laser transmitting at the Jerlov minimum in Class I water would be attenuated a factor of fifty less than a laser transmitting at 505 nm at a depth of 1000 feet. The diagnostics used to determine water class usually give indications of transmissivity for near-surface layers2. In fact, sea water may be thought of a being Class I water at all depths, with the exception of phytoplankton layers near the surface3.
© 1983 Optical Society of America
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