Crosswind profile sensing using turbulence-induced scintillation on a round-trip propagation path

Abstract

Analysis of turbulence-induced scintillation on a round-trip propagation path was performed. A simplified equation for the cross-covariance of intensity fluctuations on a round-trip path was derived. This equation was validated both experimentally over a 1 km horizontal path and using a wave-optics simulation. An analytical solution was obtained for a non-linear integral equation relating the crosswind velocity profile to a spatial–temporal cross-covariance of intensity fluctuations observed in the laser return. A method for crosswind profile reconstruction using an optical sensor with varying beam divergence was developed and experimentally demonstrated. A portable, battery-powered optical wind sensor with fixed beam divergence suitable for mounting on a riflescope was constructed and field-demonstrated in live fire tests. Results of the live fire tests validated the proposed method.