Title :
Femtosecond laser pulse propagation through aerosol clouds
Author :
Alexander, Dennis R. ; Rohlfs, Mark L.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng. & Center for Electro-Opt., Nebraska Univ., Lincoln, NE, USA
Abstract :
Ultra short laser pulses ranging from about 5 fs and greater exist for free space communications. This paper presents experimental and theoretical results into the fundamental attenuation and scattering problem of ultra short pulses propagating in 2-3 μm aerosol clouds (simulating fog) at particle concentrations of 105 particles per cm3. Experimental results did not statistically show any difference between >50 fs pulses and continuous wave (cw) laser propagation through clouds. The interesting results are that the frequency content of the laser pulse is preserved. Theoretical Time Dependent Mie Scattering (TDMS) codes have been developed to explain the reduction and transient nature of diffraction effects as the laser pulse is shortened.
Keywords :
aerosols; atmospheric light propagation; clouds; fog; laser beams; tropospheric electromagnetic wave propagation; aerosol; atmosphere; attenuation; cloud; diffraction effects; femtosecond pulse; fog; laser beam; laser pulse; light propagation; optics; scattering; theoretical time dependent Mie scattering; troposphere; ultra short pulse; Aerosols; Clouds; Frequency; Laser theory; Mie scattering; Optical attenuators; Optical propagation; Optical pulses; Particle scattering; Time division multiplexing;
Conference_Titel :
Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 2002. IGARSS '02. 2002 IEEE International
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7536-X
DOI :
10.1109/IGARSS.2002.1026724