Abstract

The phase structure function has been used as a convenient way to characterize aberrations introduced on optical propagation by the atmosphere. It forms the theoretical basis for the calculation of such things as the long- and short-exposure atmospheric transfer function. The structure function is difficult to measure directly and is usually assumed to follow Kolmogorov statistics. We present here a technique for direct measurement of the structure function through the use of a Shack–Hartmann wave-front sensor. Experiments confirm that the atmosphere behaves according to Kolmogorov theory most of the time. However, some instances of non-Kolmogorov behavior have been noted.

© 1992 Optical Society of America

Wave-front reconstruction using a Shack–Hartmann sensor

R. G. Lane and M. Tallon
Appl. Opt. 31(32) 6902-6908 (1992)

Measuring the power-law exponent of an atmospheric turbulence phase power spectrum with a Shack–Hartmann wave-front sensor

Changhui Rao, Wenhan Jiang, and Ning Ling
Opt. Lett. 24(15) 1008-1010 (1999)

Use of a Shack–Hartmann wave-front sensor to measure deviations from a Kolmogorov phase spectrum

T. W. Nicholls, G. D. Boreman, and J. C. Dainty
Opt. Lett. 20(24) 2460-2462 (1995)

Improvement of Shack–Hartmann wave-front sensor measurement for extreme adaptive optics

M. Nicolle, T. Fusco, G. Rousset, and V. Michau
Opt. Lett. 29(23) 2743-2745 (2004)

Measuring Seeing with a Shack–Hartmann Wave-front Sensor During an Active-Optics Experiment

Yong Zhang, Dehua Yang, and Xiangqun Cui
Appl. Opt. 43(4) 729-734 (2004)