Abstract

The mean intensity distribution in a GaAs laser beam (λ = 9050 Å; 66 × 5 μrad initially) was observed at distances of L = 130 m, 650 m, 1.3 km, and investigated at 4.5 km mainly as a function of the meteorological range. With increasing distance and decreasing meteorological range beam spreading increases and the spot structure of the laser-diode emission pattern decreases. Even at median meteorological ranges atmospheric aerosol scattering, not atmospheric turbulence, is the main reason for beam spreading. It was proved further that the probability distribution of the fluctuating intensity generally can be approximated with log-normal distribution functions. The fluctuations increase with increasing distance from the beam axis.

© 1973 Optical Society of America

Propagation of Laser Radiation in a Turbulent Atmosphere

S. S. Khmelevtsov
Appl. Opt. 12(10) 2421-2433 (1973)

Laser beam propagation through the turbulent atmosphere with precipitation

A. G. Borovoy, G. Ya. Patrushev, and A. I. Petrov
Appl. Opt. 27(17) 3704-3714 (1988)

Depolarization of a Laser Beam at 6328 Å due to Atmospheric Transmission

D. H. Höhn
Appl. Opt. 8(2) 367-369 (1969)

Log-Intensity Correlations of a Laser Beam in a Turbulent Medium

E. Collett, R. Alferness, and T. Forbes
Appl. Opt. 12(5) 1067-1070 (1973)

Temporal fluctuations of laser beam radiation in atmospheric precipitation

A. F. Zhukov, M. V. Kabanov, and R. Sh. Tsvyk
Appl. Opt. 27(3) 578-583 (1988)