A Mixed Method for Measuring the Inner Scale of Atmospheric Turbulence

Abstract

Abstract A new method for measuring the inner scale and structure constant of atmospheric turbulence is proposed and tested. It utilizes both phase and amplitude fluctuations of laser radiation propagating in the medium. The measured quantities are the intensity variance of a spherical wave and the transverse-displacement variance (wandering) of a narrow laser beam. The method is developed within the limits of geometrical optics. Experimental laboratory results are presented. Values of inner scale of a few millimetres are measured.