Suppressing turbulence-induced laser beam wandering by using an axicon

Laser beam wandering induced by air turbulence could be crucial for applications such as free-space optical communications, LIDAR, and remote air lasing. In this study, the influence of air turbulence on the transverse wandering of a Gauss laser beam with and without an axicon as the focusing optical component has been investigated. It has been demonstrated that the turbulence-induced beam wandering could be dramatically suppressed by using an axicon. Further, the corresponding mechanism has been discussed. This work would bring great benefits to many practical applications relying on a stable laser beam in a turbulent atmosphere. (c) 2023 Optica Publishing Group

Automated summary

This study investigates the influence of air turbulence on laser beam wandering and demonstrates that using an axicon can significantly suppress the turbulence-induced beam wandering. This is of great importance for practical applications that rely on stable laser beams in turbulent environments.