Measuring turbulence parameters with high precision through the smooth perturbation method

Abstract

The refractive index structure constant C 2 n and the microscale l 0 of turbulence contribute as crucial indicators of turbulence strength in a medium, such as the atmosphere. These parameters exert a substantial influence on measurements performed with Laser Doppler Vibrometry in an open atmosphere. Their significance becomes evident through variations in the phase characteristics of laser beams induced by outdoor turbulent phenomena, thereby impacting the precision and reliability of measurements. We discuss the measurement of turbulence parameters through application of the Rytov approximation using a specialized arrangement with laser Doppler vibrometers. In this paper, we investigate how this method allows deriving key turbulence parameters, such as the refractive index structure constant C 2 n and the inner scale of turbulence l 0 .