TIME-OF-ARRIVAL FLUCTUATIONS OF A SPACE-TIME GAUSSIAN PULSE IN WEAK OPTICAL TURBULENCE - AN ANALYTIC SOLUTION

An analytic expression is derived for the long-term temporal broadenin g (fluctuations of arrival time) of a collimated space-time Gaussian p ulse propagating along a horizontal path through weak optical turbulen ce. General results are presented for nominal parameter values charact erizing laser communication through the atmosphere. Specific examples are calculated for both upper-atmosphere and ground-level cross links. It is shown that, for upper-atmosphere cross links, pulses shorter th an 100 fs have considerable broadening, whereas at ground level, broad ening is predicted in pulses as long as I ps. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America. OCIS codes: 010.7060, 140.3300, 320.5550, 350.6090.