Abstract

In this work we consider the intensity fluctuations caused by speckle effect due to backscatter from diffuse atmospheric aerosol target and its propagation through atmospheric turbulence. The normalized variance of intensity fluctuations due to speckle propagation in weak turbulence was considered by Holmes, Lee and Kerr (1) and they obtained a value of 1.3 for the normalized variance. Churnside and Yura (2) developed the theoretical formulation to analyze decorrelation time, and Murty (3) extended the analysis to include the effects of turbulence along the path. Experimental observations of decorrelation times of 2 to 2.5 usec were reported by Ancellet and Menzies (4) using pulsed CO₂ lidar over 1.3 km horizontal range.

© 1991 Optical Society of America