Investigation of fluctuations of the phase of infrared radiation in a turbulent atmosphere by the method of intracavity laser reception

A theoretical analysis is made of the characteristic features of coherent and noncoherent laser reception of weak signals reflected from objects and transmitted by turbulent atmosphere. Experimental results are given of laboratory measurements of the sensitivity of the method when applied to fluctuations of the radiation phase. Intracavity laser reception was used in a series of measurements along a path outside the laboratory under various weather conditions.