Transfocation Technique to Overcome Atmospheric Scintillation Effect on a Laser Detection and Tracking System (LDTS)

Abstract

Atmospheric transmission is disturbed by scintillation, where scintillation caused more beam divergence. In this work target image spot radius was calculated in presence of atmospheric scintillation. The calculation depend on few relevant equation based on atmospheric parameter (for Middle East), tracking range, expansion ratio of applied beam expander's, receiving unit lens F-number, and the laser wavelength besides photodetector parameter. At maximum target range Rmax =20 km, target image radius is at its maximum Rs=0.4 mm. As the range decreases spot radius decreases too, until the range reaches limit (4 km) at which target image spot radius at its minimum value (0.22 mm). Then as the range decreases, spot radius increases due to geometric optical law. So tracking is possible only in the range from 3 to 11 km, depending on tracking criteria. Target image size minimized to required ratio by using transfocation technique to overcome tracking filler, this technique uses zoom lens.
We find that atmospheric scintillation is affective parameter which reduced the maximum tracking range, and to avoid tracking failure at minimum and maximum range, the transfocation technique is suitable