Turbulence-induced persistence in laser beam wandering

Area of Science:

• Optics
• Physics
• Atmospheric Science

Background:

• Turbulence significantly impacts optical signal propagation.
• Understanding laser beam wandering is critical for free-space optical communications.
• Long-memory effects in physical systems are of great scientific interest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally confirm long-memory correlations in laser beam wandering.
• To analyze the persistence of beam displacements under varying turbulent conditions.
• To provide insights for modeling atmospheric turbulence effects on optical signals.

Main Methods:

• Conducting a laboratory experiment with controlled turbulent conditions.
• Recording coordinate fluctuations of a Gaussian laser beam at high sampling rates.
• Applying detrended fluctuation analysis to time-series data of beam displacements.

Main Results:

• Experimental confirmation of long-memory correlations in laser beam wandering.
• Identification of highly persistent signals in both horizontal and vertical beam coordinates.
• Correlation between signal persistence and turbulent intensity, especially at high intensities.

Conclusions:

• Laser beam wandering through turbulence exhibits long-memory properties.
• These findings enhance the understanding of atmospheric turbulence effects on optical beams.
• The results are vital for improving free-space optical communication systems and atmospheric optics modeling.