Long-range optical imaging applications are typically hindered by atmospheric turbulence. The effect of turbulence on an imaging system can manifest itself as an image blur effect usually quantified by the phase distortions present in the system. The blurring effect can be understood on the basis of the measured strength of atmospheric optical turbulence along the propagation path and its impacts on phase perturbation statistics within the imaging system. One method for obtaining these measurements is by the use of a dynamically ranged Rayleigh beacon system that exploits strategically varied beacon ranges along the propagation path, effectively obtaining estimates of the aberrations affecting an optical imaging system. We developed a method for extracting tomographic turbulence strength estimations from a dynamically ranged Rayleigh beacon system that uses a Shack-Hartmann sensor as the phase measurement device. The foundation for extracting tomographic information from strategically range-varied beacon measurements obtained in rapid sequence is presented along with modeled example cases for typical turbulence scenarios. Additionally, the processing algorithm was used to simulate identification of isolated strong turbulence layers. We present the chosen processing algorithm's foundation and provide discussion of the utility of this algorithm as an atmospheric turbulence profiling methodology. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

Long range imagery systems are negatively affected by atmospheric turbulence. This paper describes a method for quantifying that turbulence strength profile along the viewed path by presenting a novel system concept and first measurement results.

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Practical stellar interferometry for space domain awareness is challenged by the relative motions of orbital objects and telescope arrays that require array phasing using guide stars. An orbital object’s image sensitivity to the location and brightness of the guide star is problematic, possibly resulting in a degraded resolution or loss of image content when both objects fall within the interferometer’s field of view. We characterized an orbital object’s visibility using visibility contrast to noise ratios ( C N R Δ v ) as a performance metric for orbital object image quality. Experimental validations included orbital object visibility measurements for dual binary pinholes that were scaled in size and brightness individually to match expected interferometer data collection scenarios. We show agreement in C N R Δ v results, indicating resolvable orbital object signals during periods of collection when signal contributions from both the orbital object and guide star are present. Expanding presented results to imaging interferometers, we discuss how dual object imaging could degrade performance under the scenarios examined.

This study quantifies the feasibility for a mobile sodium guidestar system. Simulations are run using the High Energy Laser End-to-End Operational Simulation (HELEEOS) software package with global sodium layer climatology data. Sodium layer data used was collected from the Optical Spectrograph and Infrared Imaging System (OSIRIS) sensor package on board the Odin satellite from 2005 through 2011 and provides a detailed global representation of the variable sodium layer occurring at an altitude of approximately 90 km in the atmosphere. This data is used in conjunction with the HELEEOS atmospheric propagation modeling to create realistic sodium guidestar models. The atmospheric effects for the laser propagation scattering model and creation of the sodium guidestar are defined in the worldwide probabilistic climatic database available in the HELEEOS software package. The simulations run evaluated the performance of a guidestar as viewed from along the propagation path and from nonpropagation path viewing angles for engagement scenarios in various locations on earth. HELEEOS includes a fast-calculating, first principles, worldwide surface to 100 km, with extensions above 100 km to account for the sodium layer, atmospheric propagation and characterization package. This package enables the creation of profiles of temperature, v pressure, water vapor content, optical turbulence, atmospheric particulates and hydrometeors as they relate to line-by-line layer transmission, path and background radiance at wavelengths from the ultraviolet to radio frequencies. HELEEOS is able to produce realistic evaluations of laser propagation, imaging, and adaptive optics systems by use of an end to end directed energy propagation model that incorporates probabilistic, climatological data from temporally and spatially variable meteorological, aerosol, and turbulence profiles. Specifically, HELEEOS performs its propagation calculations utilizing the following algorithms, models and datasets: the Scaling for HEL and Relay Systems (SHaRE) scaling law algorithms, High Resolution Transmission (HITRAN) database for molecular absorption, Global Aerosol Dataset (GADS), Advanced Navy Aerosol Model (ANAM), the Adaptive Optical Compensation of Thermal Blooming (AOTB) model, various turbulence models, and other physics based atmospheric propagation algorithms. HELEEOS was developed by the United States Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) under the sponsorship of the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office. vi Dedicated to my parents vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My special thanks are in order to Dr. Steven T. Fiorino, my advisor, for providing the time and software necessary for the work contained herein, and for directing this thesis and bringing it to its conclusion with patience and expertise. I would also like to express my appreciation to everyone who has helped me with this work. This includes Brannon Elmore, who provided updates to the software used for this thesis and Erin Dawkins, who facilitated the transfer of sodium layer data from the Unive...