title: Bootstrap beacon creation for overcoming the effects of beacon anisoplanatism in a laser beam projection system.
abstract: We address the problem of using adaptive optics to deliver power from an airborne laser platform to a ground target through atmospheric turbulence under conditions of strong scintillation and anisoplanatism. We explore three options for creating a beacon for use in adaptive optics beam control: scattering laser energy from the target, using a single uncompensated Rayleigh beacon, and using a series of compensated Rayleigh beacons. We demonstrate that using a series of compensated Rayleigh beacons distributed along the path provides the best beam compensation.
authors.affiliation: School of Technology, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295, USA. avsergue@mtu.edu
authors.forename: Aleksandr V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Sergeyev
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piatrou
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Roggemann