Effects of random path fluctuations on the accuracy of laser ranging systems

Gardner, Chester S.

doi:10.1364/ao.15.002539

Cited by 47 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…In turbulence theory, this differential phase noise is captured by the (spatially averaged) two-frequency mutual coherence function, ( ) 0 m ν ν ν Γ Δ = − , whose width is the coherence bandwidth and whose Fourier transform is the pulse broadening due to turbulence [15,[23][24][25][26][27][28]. It is expanded as This assumption is violated by effects that cause two frequencies to sample different air paths, including multiple scattering from strong turbulence [15,23,24,26], the coupling of turbulence and Gaussian beam propagation outside the narrowband approximation [26,27], or a gradient in the atmospheric refraction index [28]. One would certainly expect it is violated in multi-mode propagation.…”

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confidence: 99%

Broadband Phase Spectroscopy over Turbulent Air Paths

et al. 2015

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confidence: 99%

Broadband Phase Spectroscopy over Turbulent Air Paths

et al. 2015

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“…These signals experience propagation details due to the charged particle environment in the exosphere and, most notably, due to the properties and composition of the troposhere. There is extensive literature available on this topic (see., e.g., [2,7,[32][33][34][35][36][37]), a comprehensive discussion of which is beyond the scope of our present paper.…”

Section: Light Travel Timementioning

confidence: 99%

General relativistic observables for the ACES experiment

Turyshev¹,

Yu²,

Toth³

2016

Phys. Rev. D

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We develop a high-precision model for relativistic observables of the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) experiment on the International Space Station (ISS). We develop all relativistic coordinate transformations that are needed to describe the motion of ACES in Earth orbit and to compute observable quantities. We analyze the accuracy of the required model as it applies to the proper-to-coordinate time transformations, light time equation, and spacecraft equations of motion. We consider various sources of nongravitational noise and their effects on ACES. We estimate the accuracy of orbit reconstruction that is needed to satisfy the ACES science objectives. Based on our analysis, we derive models for the relativistic observables of ACES, which also account for the contribution of atmospheric drag on the clock rate. We include the Earth's oblateness coefficient J2 and the effects of major nongravitational forces on the orbit of the ISS. We demonstrate that the ACES reference frame is pseudo-inertial at the level of accuracy required by the experiment. We construct a Doppler-canceled science observable representing the gravitational redshift. We derive accuracy requirements for ISS navigation. The improved model is accurate up to < 1 ps and ∼ 4 × 10 −17 for time and frequency transfers, correspondingly. These limits are determined by the higher order harmonics in Earth's gravitational potential.PACS numbers: 03.30.+p, 04.25.Nx, 06.30.Gv, 95.10.Eg, 95.10.Jk, 95.55.Pe

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“…In ref. (Gardner, 1976) derived analytical formulae that allow us to predict the turbulence--induced random pathlength fluctuations, directly for the case of satellite laser ranging, or generally for propagation delay. He also computed some concrete results and predicted that the RMS path deviations could reach millimeters, and at some extreme situations even several centimeters.…”

Section: Theoretical Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%