Understanding the Effect of Atmospheric Turbulence on Optical and Infrared Propagation using Hilbert Phase Analysis

Abstract : The refractive index structure parameter C(2/n) is a figure of merit used to describe the magnitude of the effect of turbulence in the atmosphere. Understanding the influence of different local climate parameters upon C(2/n) is an important step toward developing a prediction model for in-field laser interrogators. The layered structure of the atmosphere and its random behavior present unique challenges to theoretical and experimental studies in propagation research. This article presents a novel technique termed Hilbert Phase Analysis (HPA) to provide insights into the physical interactions. We explore the technique's use in analyzing the dependence of C(2/n) on local climate variables using data recently obtained from campaigns conducted in Puerto Rico.