Perturbations analysis of a laser beam propagating in turbulent water by an interferometric method

Abstract

Optical heterodyne detection will be severely perturbed by the refraction effects caused by the turbulent medium. The price of high optimum sensitivity in heterodyne detection is the strict alignment of the local oscillator beam and the signal beam. To study the influence of turbulences on an optical wave front, we have used an experimental method based on an interferometric technique (Mach-Zehnder interferometer).</jats:p