Laser beam scintillation in the marine boundary layer

Abstract

Intensity scintillation in a laser beam at 0.63 micrometers in the marine boundary layer has been studied over a 4.3 kilometer horizontal path across Monterey Bay and also from shore to ship at San Nicolas Island. Optical and micrometeorological measurements of the refractive index structure constant, CN, agree to approximately one standard deviation giving values in the range 2.0 x 10-8 to 5.0 x 10 -1/3 (meters). Optical and meteorological data correlation improved as mean wind speed increased. Evidence was found to support the reported existence of a saturation region for the laser beam logarithmic amplitude variance.