Abstract

A new method is presented to measure inner scale and structure constant of the atmospheric turbulence. The method utilizes information contained in both phase and amplitude fluctuations of laser radiation propagating through the atmosphere. More precisely, it requires the simultaneous measurements of the intensity variance at a point of a spherical wave and the transverse displacement variance of a narrow laser beam that have crossed the same turbulent path. The method, which is suitable for measurements over very short paths, is developed in the limits of geometrical optics. An experimental laboratory test is also presented.

© 1989 Optical Society of America