Numerical simulation for echo characteristics of laser beams reflected by retro-reflectors in atmospheric turbulence

Abstract

In this study, a split-step Fourier method (FFSM) was extended in the simulation of a double-passage laser propagation in atmospheric turbulence. The characteristics of the coherence length and intensity scintillation for the plane wave, spherical wave, and Gaussian beam reflected by the plane’s mirror and retro-reflector were numerically simulated and compared using a phase-screen approximation method. The properties of the echo waves from the mirror and retro-reflector, and that of the double-passage propagation without a target, were also presented. The results obtained in this study could be potentially used to detect the different characteristics of the echo fields of plane waves, spherical waves and Gaussian waves reflected by different targets, so as to obtain the target characteristics. In addition, the study results could also provide theoretical and technical guidance for the application of laser target detection and recognition.