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A geometrical-optics formulation is used to derive expressions for the angle-of-arrival variance produced when a retroreflector is illuminated and observed through the turbulent atmosphere. No fluctuations are observed when the retroreflector is illuminated by collimated or focused light. Light focused at a distance near twice the reflector range can produce large fluctuations, whereas diverging illumination tends to produce a variance that is less than that which would be observed on the transmitted beam at the reflector.
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James H. Churnside (1989) studied this question.
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