Estimating the optimal sampling rate using wavelet transform: an application to optimal turbulence

Sampling rate and frequency content determination for optical quantities related to light propagation through turbulence are paramount experimental topics. Some papers about estimating properties of the optical turbulence seem to use ad hoc assumptions to set the sampling frequency used; this chosen sampling rate is assumed good enough to perform a proper measurement. On the other hand, other authors estimate the optimal sampling rate via fast Fourier transform of data series associated to the experiment. When possible, with the help of analytical models, cut-off frequencies, or frequency content, can be determined; yet, these approaches require prior knowledge of the optical turbulence. The aim of this paper is to propose an alternative, practical, experimental method to estimate a proper sampling rate. By means of the discrete wavelet transform, this approach can prevent any loss of information and, at the same time, avoid oversampling. Moreover, it is independent of the statistical model imposed on the turbulence.Fil: Funes, Gustavo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Opticas (i); ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Angel. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso; Chile. Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa María; ChileFil: Peréz, Darío G.. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso; ChileFil: Zunino, Luciano José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Opticas (i); ArgentinaFil: Serrano, Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; Argentin