Optical path length fluctuations in the atmosphere

George N. Gibson; James Heyman; John Lugten; Walter Fitelson; Charles H. Townes

doi:10.1364/AO.23.004383

Applied Optics
Vol. 23,
Issue 23,
pp. 4383-4389
(1984)
•https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.23.004383

Optical path length fluctuations in the atmosphere

George N. Gibson, James Heyman, John Lugten, Walter Fitelson, and Charles H. Townes

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George N. Gibson, James Heyman, John Lugten, Walter Fitelson, and Charles H. Townes, "Optical path length fluctuations in the atmosphere," Appl. Opt. 23, 4383-4389 (1984)

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Abstract

The effect of atmospheric fluctuations on measurements of distance has become increasingly important as laser interferometers become more widely used. The present study evaluates the precision with which dimensions can be monitored by interferometry involving optical path lengths in the open air under good atmospheric conditions. The size and time scale of optical path length fluctuations over distances of one meter, and correlations between fluctuations in nearby optical paths, are measured and analyzed.

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Height of light path (m)	Astronomical seeing in arcsec as measured at the Shane 3-m telescope	Light path orientation with respect to wind (approximate only)

		Perpendicular to wind velocity		Parallel to wind velocity

		Number of runs	Root mean square fluctuation in λ (0.6328 μm)	Number of runs	Root mean square fluctuation in λ (0.6328 μm)
	1–2	14	0.19 ± 0.02	2	0.14 ± 0.04
1.09	3–4	9	0.16 ± 0.02	13	0.18 ± 0.02
	5–8	1	0.25	0
	1–2	4	0.18 ± 0.03	1	0.11
1.75	3–4	3	0.14 ± 0.04	9	0.16 ± 0.02
	5–8	0		0
2.16	1–2	3	0.27 ± 0.04	0
	1–2	8	0.26 ± 0.03	0
2.77	3–4	6	0.17 ± 0.01	4	0.26 ± 0.04
	5–8	1	0.24	0

All runs	Number runs	Root mean square Fluctuations of in units of λ = 0.6328 μm
Perpendicular to wind velocity	49	0.20
Parallel to wind velocity	29	0.18
1.09 m above ground level	39	0.18
1.75 m above ground level	17	0.20
2.77 m above ground level	19	0.23
With seeing of 1–2 arcsec	29	0.20
With seeing of 3–4 arcsec	44	0.18
With seeing of 5–8 arcsec	2	0.25

			Light path orientation with respect to wind

			Perpendicular to wind velocity			Parallel to wind velocity

Height of light paths (m)			Number of runs	Average fluctuations in individual paths	Fluctuations in the difference between two separate paths	Number of runs	Average fluctuations in individual paths	Fluctuations in the difference between two separate paths
Lower path	Upper Path		Number of runs	Average fluctuations in individual paths	Fluctuations in the difference between two separate paths	Number of runs	Average fluctuations in individual paths	Fluctuations in the difference between two separate paths
1.09		1.75	7	0.17 ± 0.02	0.12 ± 0.01	10	0.16 ± 0.01	0.14 ± 0.02
1.09		2.77	9	0.18 ± 0.02	0.20 ±0.02	4	0.22 ± 0.03	0.26 ± 0.04
2.16		2.77	3	0.26 ± 0.04	0.15 ± 0.01	0	—	—

Height of light path (m)	Astronomical seeing in arcsec as measured at the Shane 3-m telescope	Light path orientation with respect to wind (approximate only)

		Perpendicular to wind velocity		Parallel to wind velocity

		Number of runs	Root mean square fluctuation in λ (0.6328 μm)	Number of runs	Root mean square fluctuation in λ (0.6328 μm)
	1–2	14	0.19 ± 0.02	2	0.14 ± 0.04
1.09	3–4	9	0.16 ± 0.02	13	0.18 ± 0.02
	5–8	1	0.25	0
	1–2	4	0.18 ± 0.03	1	0.11
1.75	3–4	3	0.14 ± 0.04	9	0.16 ± 0.02
	5–8	0		0
2.16	1–2	3	0.27 ± 0.04	0
	1–2	8	0.26 ± 0.03	0
2.77	3–4	6	0.17 ± 0.01	4	0.26 ± 0.04
	5–8	1	0.24	0

All runs	Number runs	Root mean square Fluctuations of in units of λ = 0.6328 μm
Perpendicular to wind velocity	49	0.20
Parallel to wind velocity	29	0.18
1.09 m above ground level	39	0.18
1.75 m above ground level	17	0.20
2.77 m above ground level	19	0.23
With seeing of 1–2 arcsec	29	0.20
With seeing of 3–4 arcsec	44	0.18
With seeing of 5–8 arcsec	2	0.25

Abstract

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Applied Optics