The effects of atmospheric turbulence in optical astronomy
Abstract
Atmospheric turbulence is examined in terms of its effects on optical astronomy. The statistical properties of atmospheric turbulence are explored, considering structure, temperature and humidity fluctuations, and the dependence of the contribution of turbulence to optical propagation with height and time. The statistical properties of the perturbed complex field are analyzed for the output of a thin turbulent layer, multiple and thick layers, and fourth order moments. Long exposure images are considered for the relation between the object and the image, for an expression of the optical transfer function, for resolving power, and for application to Michelson's stellar interferometry. Short exposure images vary with the image energy spectrum and the probability density functions of stellar speckles. Attention is also given to the effects of exposure time and nonisoplanicity effects, optical path fluctuations, stellar scintillation, and applications to high resolution imaging. It is noted that astronomical instruments may become useful for atmospheric remote sensing, as is now done for stellar scintillation.
- Publication:
-
Progess in Optics
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S0079-6638(08)70204-X
- Bibcode:
- 1981PrOpt..19..281R
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomy;
- Atmospheric Optics;
- Atmospheric Turbulence;
- Light Transmission;
- Turbulence Effects;
- Energy Spectra;
- High Resolution;
- Image Resolution;
- Michelson Interferometers;
- Optical Paths;
- Optical Transfer Function;
- Scintillation;
- Astronomy;
- ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS;
- REVIEWS;
- THEORY;
- OBSERVATIONS