Verification of the mode fidelity and Fried parameter for optical turbulence generated by a spatial light modulator

Abstract

The ability of a holographic optical spatial mode generator to reproduce a laser beam which has propagated through simulated atmospheric turbulence is characterized via wavefront sensor (WFS) measurements. The range of optical turbulence which can be effectively recreated is determined including its dependence on the pixel resolution of the spatial light modulator used as a hologram to modulate the beam. Optimal sampling of the hologram grating for producing turbulent spatial modes is studied analytically and experimentally. Mode fidelity above 90% is verified up to D/r0 = 10 with less than 3% error in the ratio D/r0. The Fried parameter is verified up to D/r0 = 50 demonstrating less than 9% error producing the targeted ratio D/r0.