High Energy Laser-Laser Communications Performance Assessments from Remotely-Sensed Measurements of Atmospheric Beam Scatter (18U07AFITCusu)

Air Force Institute Of Tech, Wright Patterson Afb OH

Investigators

Abstract

The team proposes to develop a system to estimate the source and transmitter characteristics of HEL and Laser Communications beams from the off-axis scatter of the high energy laser (HEL) or communications laser beams. The algorithm incorporates detailed models of meteorological effects to deconvolve the state of the atmosphere on laser propagation and scattering. Analysis begins with the forward problem of laser propagation and scattering. A computational assessment tool is used to quantify the off-axis propagation in arbitrary directions for simulated) engagement geometries, defined laser characteristics, and atmospheric conditions. These simulations can be used to bound the problem and provide a database for analysis of potential algorithms for the estimation of transmitter characteristics, information content for communication beams, and possibly geophysical data. The PI developed High Energy Laser End-to End Operational Simulation (HELEEOS) software package exploits fast-running scaling law propagation methods and robust probabilistic atmospheric database to provide probability densities of atmospheric effects on laser propagation and scattering. Linking the algorithm to databases of potential sources will allow improved estimates in hypothesis testing of candidate transmitter characteristics as may be available within the intelligence community. The first year will be devoted to parametric analysis of the forward problem and definition of performance for an omniscient observer for various locations, geometries and receiving optics/sensors. Students at a variety of levels are engaged in the research.