Experimental Atmospheric Turbulence Characterisation

A Schedule Agreement under the DEFENCE SCIENCE PARTNERING DEEDThe activities funded under the REF proposal are to undertake unclassified, enabling research activities to inform the development and potential locations for optical ground station sites in Australia. This project with ANU is to investigate atmospheric turbulence through development of a SCIntillation Detection And Ranging (SCIDAR) system for experimental measurement of the vertical atmospheric turbulence profile. These measurements will be conducted at key sites in Australia and Japan (subject to NICT funding), including low altitude sites. These measurements provide key input for improving laser propagation models and assessing performance of adaptive optics systems for high data rate optical links.