Effects of underwater turbulence on laser beam propagation and coupling into single-mode optical fiber.
We characterize and compare the effects of turbulence on underwater laser propagation with theory. Measurements of the coupling efficiency of the focused beam into a single-mode fiber are reported. A simple tip-tilt control system, based on the position of the image centroid in the focal plane, was shown to maintain good coupling efficiency for a beam radius equal to the transverse coherence length, r(0). These results are relevant to high bandwidth communication technology that requires good spatial mode quality.
Hanson
Frank
F
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, California 92152, USA. hansonfe@spawar.navy.mil
Lasher
Mark
M