METHOD FOR INVESTIGATION OF ATMOSPHERIC TURBULENCE BY ANALYSIS OF STAR SCINTILLATION AND DEVICE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION Russian patent published in 2023 - IPC G01S17/95 G01N21/41 

FIELD: optical instruments.

SUBSTANCE: method consists in pointing the optical axis of the receiving unit to a natural single star, registering an optical signal with a photodetector, from which, using a pulse counter, during accumulation time t, the electrical impulses are counted for recording time T. Data on counting rate fluctuations is processed and used to calculate the scintillation index, and the values of the structural characteristics of the refractive index C_n² are evaluated for subsequent determination of the spatiotemporal characteristics of atmospheric turbulence. Prior to registration, the mismatch of the optical axes of the guidance system with the photodetector is determined and their adjustment is performed, the diameter of the receiving aperture is set, and the optical signal is recorded in a narrow spectral range. After calculating the scintillation index, the value of the spectral power density is calculated in the frequency range from 1/T to ½ 1/t for various spatial scales of atmospheric turbulence, the Greenwood frequency and the average value of the structural characteristic of the refractive index C_n² are estimated, taking into account the aperture averaging factor.

EFFECT: increased measurement range of the fluctuation spectrum of the optical signal, determination of frequency characteristics, and decreased measurement error.

2 cl, 1 dwg