Date of Award

3-5-2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Department

Department of Engineering Physics

First Advisor

Steven T. Fiorino, PhD

Second Advisor

Salvatore J. Cusumano, PhD

Abstract

This research effort assesses the performance of the High Energy Laser End-to-End Operational Simulation (HELEEOS) Climatological C2n optical turbulence model. Path-integrated C2n values of two HELEEOS optical turbulence pro les at 3 distinct operational altitudes are compared to values determined from measured thermosonde data. HELEEOS desert and mid-latitude sites are selected from the Extreme and Percentile Environmental Reference Tables (ExPERT) database for comparison to the thermosonde data. Statistical equivalence of the two datasets is determined through a Design of Experiments (DOE) factorial test to within 80% confidence. The HELEEOS profiles are shown to be equivalent to the thermosonde data for a 500 m boundary layer profile. Deterministic values of the 80% confidence intervals are established. The HELEEOS optical turbulence model is used as the input turbulence model for wave optics simulations. Long-term spot size measurements show that HELEEOS outperforms empirical turbulence models by as much as 17%. Recommendations are made to improve the HELEEOS graphical outputs and reference tables.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GEO-ENP-07-02

DTIC Accession Number

ADA465283

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