Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Femtosecond Laser Filaments for Use in Sub-Diffraction-Limited Imaging and Remote Sensing
Published on: April 25, 2019
Intensity fluctuations in laser links between the ground and a satellite
1National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, 4-2-1 Nukuikitama-chi, Koganei-shi, Tokyo 184-8795, Japan. toyoda@nict.go.jp
Abstract:
Laser-beam-intensity fluctuations between an uplink (ground to satellite) and a downlink (satellite to ground) are described. The dependence of the beam radius on log-intensity variance in the uplink and the dependence of receiving-aperture diameter on the log-intensity variance in the downlink using a known theory were calculated. Statistical analysis of the experimental data on the laser links was performed, and high correlation coefficients of 0.94 between the normalized intensity variances of the uplink and those of the stellar scintillation were obtained. The beam-pointing error in the satelliteborne laser transmitter chiefly caused fluctuations in the downlink.
Related Concept Videos
Intensity Of Electromagnetic Waves
Errors in Global Positioning System
Electronic Distance Measuring Instruments
Influence of Earth's Curvature and Atmospheric Refraction on Leveling

