Assessing the influence of atmospheric optical inhomogeneities on the accuracy of laser beam positioning during vertical sounding

Strakhov, S.Y., Savin A.V., Sotnikova, N.V., Orlov A.E.

For Russian citation (Opticheskii Zhurnal):

Страхов С.Ю., Савин А.В., Сотникова Н.В., Орлов А.Е. Оценка влияния оптических неоднородностей атмосферы на точность позиционирования лазерного луча при вертикальном зондировании // Оптический журнал. 2025. Т. 92. № 2. С. 56–66. http://doi.org/10.17586/1023-5086-2025-92-02-56-66

Strakhov S.Yu., Savin A.V., Sotnikova N.V., Orlov A.E. Assessing the influence of atmospheric optical inhomogeneities on the accuracy of laser beam positioning during vertical sounding [ in Russian] // Opticheskii Zhurnal. 2025. V. 92. № 2. P. 56–66. http://doi.org/10.17586/1023-5086-2025-92-02-56-66

For citation (Journal of Optical Technology):

Abstract:

Subject of study. Optical inhomogeneities of the atmosphere and their influence on the parameters of laser radiation. Aim of study. Study of the influence of the altitude profile of the refractive index on the error in determining horizontal coordinates when transmitting laser radiation in the vertical direction. Method. Mathematical modeling of the atmospheric channel of propagation of laser radiation, taking into account the vertical density profile and refractive index of air. Derivation of analytical expressions relating refractive index gradients to the linear deflection of a laser beam under normal atmosphere conditions, and calculations using the resulting expressions. Main results. The work carried out a study of the influence of the altitude profile of the refractive index on the error in determining horizontal coordinates when transmitting laser radiation in the vertical direction. Analytical relations are obtained that make it possible to determine the angular and linear deviation of the beam along the vertical path, taking into account the distribution function of the refractive index over height. Nomograms of linear deviations of the point of incidence of the beam on the earth's surface from similar values for the reference beam at different heights are presented, depending on the value of the grazing angle for the normal surface atmosphere. A technique has been proposed for numerical simulation of the passage of radiation through the atmosphere with an arbitrary distribution of the refractive index. Practical significance. The relationships obtained in the work and the results of numerical modeling make it possible to perform a quantitative assessment of the linear and angular deflection of a laser beam as it propagates in the atmosphere, which is an urgent task in the design of lidar systems, remote sensing systems, group control systems for aircraft, laser communication systems and energy information exchange with using laser radiation, etc.

Keywords:

optical inhomogeneities of the atmosphere, positioning accuracy, linear beam deviation, refractive index

Acknowledgements:

this study was financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russian Federation during implementation of the Project “Development and research of methods for managing groups of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles based on advanced information support systems and interaction between individual devices in the group”, No. FZWF-2024-0002

OCIS codes: 140.3295

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