Analysis of beam wander effects for a horizontal-path propagating Gaussian-beam wave: focused beam case

• Published in: Optical engineering 2006-10
• Main Authors: Recolons Martos, Jaume, Andrews, L.C, Phillips, R.L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beam irradiance profile; Beam wander centroid displacement; Beam wander effects; Computer simulations; Enginyeria de la telecomunicació; First-order Rytov approximation failure; Fluctuacions (Física); fluctuations; Fluctuations (Physics); Focused beam case; Horizontal-path propagating Gaussian-beam wave; Hot spot displacement; large-aperture focused beam; Laser beams; Light propagation; Làsers; Optical focusing; Radiocomunicació i exploració electromagnètica; Refractive index; Scintillation index; Teledetecció; Uplink collimated beam; Weak fluctuation regime; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
• ISSN: 0091-3286

Failure of the first-order Rytov approximation to properly predict the scintillation index of a large-aperture focused beam, or an uplink collimated (or focused) beam, has been discussed in several recent publications, which cite beam wander effects as the main reason for this failure. We use computer simulations to examine several aspects of beam wander phenomena on a propagating convergent beam in the weak-fluctuation regime over a horizontal path at high altitude for which the refractive index structure parameter is on the order of C=1.39×10−16 m−2/3. Simulation results are presented at various ranges up to 10 km for (1) the beam wander centroid displacement, (2) the kurtosis excess of the irradiance profile, (3) the irradiance profile, (4) the mean-square hot spot displacement from the boresight and from the centroid, and (5) the scintillation index at the optical axis of the beam. In addition, simulation results are compared with theoretical models. Peer Reviewed