Turbulence scale effects and resolution requirements in aero-optics

摘要

While optical aberrations caused by atmospheric turbulence have been extensively investigated and well characterized, recent research has identified structural differences in optical phase distortions caused by aircraft-induced, compressible turbulence. These so-called aero-optical distortions can be a critical obstacle in the development of airborne optical systems and reduce the fidelity and on-target intensity of optical beams. Using a model index-of-refraction spectrum that accounts for changes in density due to both temperature and pressure fluctuations in aero-optically active flow fields, expressions for the two-dimensional phase distortion over an aperture are developed. From these results, relations among OPDrms, turbulent flow scales, and aperture size are examined while accounting for the effects of piston and tip/tilt corrections. Additionally, using the model spectrum, resolution requirements for wavefront sensors and numerical simulations of aero-optical flows are examined. (C) 2021 Optical Society of America