The effect of the aero optic's additional focal length on the airborne platform laser communication

Abstract

The aero optics effects caused by high speed flight may have a serious impact on the performance of space laser communication systems. In the field of space laser communication technology engineering and its practical application, this is a research problem that is highly significant. For the complex flow field that is generated by the interaction between the aircraft surface and air, the aero optics effects are usually divided into two parts, namely, laminar flow and turbulent flow. This paper discusses the principle of how the aero optics effect causes the image of the space laser communication optical system to blur and leads to a dispersed spot. The research focuses on the additional focal length (AFL) effect caused by the laminar flow field, a simulation analysis of the relationship between the flight altitude, speed, window shape and the system performance, and provides solutions to the defocus phenomenon that has been observed in airborne tests. Finally it is hoped that the paper can provide a solution that effectively compensates for the AFL effect on laser communication optical systems, and improves the communication between aircrafts.