Remote sensing of atmospheric parameters using forward scattering

We consider the case of a weakly turbulent medium with relatively short propagation path distances. Using the forward scattering model for wave propagation in the atmosphere, a set of numerical techniques are developed for measuring turbulence intensity along the line of sight path of an optical beam. These numerical techniques are applied to the discrete ill-posed inverse problem that arises from the Rytov solution of the Helmholtz equation. In this dissertation, we shall examine two numerical techniques for the solution of the resultant inverse problem. The first method will rely on traditional Tikhonov type methods combined with the L-curve theory of Hansen to solve the least squares problem. The second method will require a completely new formulation of the inverse problem into a total least squares problem whose solution will be obtained by regularization methods. It will be shown that the regularized total least squares method provides a more stable and accurate methods for determining the atmospheric intensity profile than the traditional least squares techniques under certain conditions even in the absence of a formal strategy for choosing the optimal regularization parameters. Additionally, the statistical properties of the received field will be examined by simulation methods in an effort to determine more efficient methods for modeling the receiver data under appropriate atmospheric conditions.