Propagation through the ocean's surface at shallow angles with a laser beam
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1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and School of Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, North Dartmouth 02747-2300, USA.
Abstract:
Propagation through the ocean's surface at shallow angles with a laser has been successfully demonstrated experimentally in the ocean. A 6-mJ multipulse laser at a depth of 1.5 m in water with an attenuation coefficient of approximately 3.3 m(-1) was easily detected 600 m away on a sunlit day at an angle of 1 degree to the ocean's surface. The measured efficiency was 3.6 x 10(-2) (J/J)/sr (joules received per receiver steradian per joule transmitted). Statistical ray trace analysis and physical tank modeling produced equivalent efficiencies.
