| I have developed a technique that uses wave front sensor measurements of an adaptive optics system to obtain information about turbulent processes in the atmosphere. The autocorrelation function of wave front distortions is exploited to identify individual turbulent layers of the atmosphere and the wind speeds of these layers. I compare experimental results with statistical models and determine statistical parameters of atmospheric turbulence, such as the coherence length, r0. The technique is also used to test a model describing the temporal development of atmospheric turbulence, the frozen flow hypothesis. I show that predictions of wave front distortions to improve the performance of existing adaptive optics systems are possible and that the information necessary for these predictions can be obtained with the wave front sensors which are an integral part of today's adaptive optics systems.; The data used in this dissertation come from the two adaptive optics systems at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Starfire Optical Range in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Results found from experimental data are confirmed with simulations. |
