Patent ID: 6496252
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A differential-tilt Rytov parameter monitor for estimating the value of the theoretical expression for the Rytov parameter for point source propagation of light through atmospheric optical turbulence, said monitor comprised of:a. a first point source light beacon at a first wavelength; b. a second point source light beacon at a second wavelength spatially separated from said first beacon; c. a first and a second aperture of the same diameter located in a plane and separated by a short distance in the same direction as the point source beacons are separated from each other and at a distance L from said beacons; d. a first bandpass filter at the center wavelength of said first beacon; e. a first camera positioned so as to receive the light from said first beacon, after passing through said first aperture and said first bandpass filter; f. a beamsplitter; g. a second bandpass filter at the center wavelength of said second beacon; h. a second camera positioned so as to receive the light from said second beacon after passing through said second aperture, said beamsplitter, and said second bandpass filter; i. a second first bandpass filter at the center wavelength of said first beacon; j. a third camera positioned so as to receive the light from said first beacon after passing through said second aperture, being reflected by said beamsplitter, and passing through said second first bandpass filter; and k. computer means for estimating the value of the theoretical expression for the Rytov parameter based on the inputs of said first, second, and third cameras using the difference of differential-tilt variance (DDTV) technique.