title: Image transfer through cirrus clouds. I. Ray trace analysis and wave-front reconstruction.
abstract: A new technique for modeling image transfer through cirrus clouds is presented. The technique uses a ray trace to model beam propagation through a three-dimensional volume of polydisperse, hexagonal ice crystals. Beyond the cloud, the technique makes use of standard Huygens-Fresnel propagation methods. At the air-cloud interface, each wave front is resolved into a ray distribution for input to the ray trace software. Similarly, a wave front is reconstructed from the output ray distribution at the cloud-air interface. Simulation output from the ray trace program is presented and the modulation transfer function for stars imaged through cirrus clouds of varying depths is discussed.
authors: Applied Technology Associates, 1900 Randolph, SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA. landesma@aptec.com
authors: B T
authors: BT
authors: Landesman
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Kindilien
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Matson
authors: T R
authors: TR
authors: Caudill