FOCUSING ON A TURBULENT LAYER - PRINCIPLE OF THE GENERALIZED SCIDAR

During the last two decades, much effort has been put into the remote sensing of atmospheric turbulent layers, using optical devices. The ma in scientific interest concerns optical path fluctuations relevant to communication and astronomy and the widening of our understanding of a tmospheric physics. Hen we describe an original technique that involve s moving a virtual plane of analysis in the atmosphere. Using this tec hnique, a simple optical combination allows us to explore the atmosphe re, wiping out a particular layer while distant layers located beneath or above are reinforced. When combined with the SCIDAR technique, thi s phenomenon leads to the ''generalized SCIDAR'' concept, allowing tur bulence profiles to be remotely assessed throughout the whole atmosphe re, including the boundary layer. The potential of this new concept is shown in a laboratory experiment using a vein to simulate an atmosphe ric turbulent layer.