COMPARISON OF PATH-RESOLVED OPTICAL TURBULENCE MEASUREMENTS USING TWO MZA DELTAS

Abstract

MZA’s delayed tilt anisoplanatism (DELTA) turbulence profiler offers the capability to passively estimate turbulence strength at points along a path using a differential tilt technique. This methodology has been experimentally validated; however, the comparison of path-resolved turbulence profiles between two DELTAs is less studied. Thus, we investigated this comparison as well as the associated turbulence trends between two DELTAs that were profiling the same optical path over a complex terrain environment. Two configurations were used: co-aligned and opposing. In the co-aligned configuration, the two DELTAs profiled the same optical path in the same direction, and in the opposing configuration, the DELTAs profiled the same optical path on reciprocal headings. The results offer greater insight into the strengths and limitations of the DELTA system and inform recommendations for future use of the DELTA for characterizing turbulence strength along a path in other complex environments.