THE EFFECT OF LASER FLUCTUATION STATISTICS UPON DETECTION PROBABILITY

The effects of laser beam irradiance fluctuations, such as speckle and scintillation, upon optical beam detection probability are examined i n an entirely statistical context. The optical detector is assumed to possess a non-linear integrated log-normal response function, as is no rmally ascribed to the eye. Various statistical distribution functions purported to model these fluctuations accurately are examined from bo th numerical and analytical standpoints. The numerical results indicat e that different models for fluctuation statistics predict detector th reshold probabilities which differ from each other by more than 10%. S uch variations may be significant in calculations relating to eye safe ty. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.