Energy parameters of CO2 laser radiation focused in a turbulent atmosphere under wind-dominated thermal blooming

Abstract

Temporal dynamics of peak intensity and power in a finite-size aperture of focused radiation at a wavelength of 10.6 µm under thermal self-action in a clear turbulent atmosphere is analyzed by means of computer simulation. Propagation of Gaussian beams along paths up to 160 m long is considered. It is shown that there are time spans where the peak intensity of a sharply focused beam in the middle of the path is higher than in the focal plane at the end of the path under strong fluctuations of the refractive index.