Image processing adapted to the atmosphere speckle. I. Speckle formation in turbulent atmosphere. Statistical properties

Reviews the theory of the production of speckle by the diffraction of light waves through turbulent layers seen as phase screens. Different atmospheric situations allow the authors to show the influence of the distance between the diffuser and the observer on the speckle geometry. The small perturbation approximation is experimentally justified and it is shown that the speckle pattern is still contrasted even with broadband photoelectric receivers. Image processing by means of spatiotemporal analysis of a single or multiple star could give one a variety of geophysical information.