Refractive turbulence profiles via binary source intensity scintillation correlation.

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Authors
Holland, Ricky R.
Subjects
refractive turbulence profiles
stellar scintillation
photon counting statistics
Advisors
Walters, Donald L.
Date of Issue
1988-09
Date
September 1988
Publisher
Language
en_US
Abstract
This study examines the binary source correlation technique for determining vertical profiles of the refractive index structure parameter, Cn². Theoretical intensity scintillation covariance functions and power spectra for atmospheric layers of depth Δh at a mean altitude of h are derived. These functions are related to the photoelectron counting statistics and the spatial covariance of photoelectron counts for binary point sources. A linear detector array in the exit pupil of an optical system is examined, and the effects of the detection process uncertainty are explored. A lower bound for the expected error of an experimental determination of the spatioangular covariance of counts is derived. This error is then minimized via a least squares analysis using the redundant information available in pairwise multiple correlations of a signal from the detector elements of a ten element linear array. The refractive index structure parameter profile is then derived and found to be the undetermined coefficients of the spatial covariance weighting functions in the least squares analysis.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Physics
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
66 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
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