Optical Turbulence

Optical turbulence, characterized by fluctuations in atmospheric refractive index, significantly impacts the performance of free-space optical systems like communication links and imaging technologies. Current research focuses on improving the accuracy of optical turbulence strength prediction models, employing both physics-based approaches informed by dimensional analysis and data-driven methods such as gradient boosted decision trees and deep learning. Hybrid models, combining macro-meteorological models with localized measurements and machine learning, are showing promise in improving prediction accuracy, particularly in diverse microclimates. These advancements are crucial for optimizing the design and deployment of free-space optical technologies.