Signal current probability distribution for optical heterodyne receivers in the turbulent atmosphere 2: Experiment

Experimental results are presented for the probability density functions of the i.f. signal magnitude from a static optical heterodyne receiver operating in the presence of clear air turbulence. These results are compared with the theory developed in Part 1 and are shown to give excellent agreement. The experimental system includes a He–Ne laser transmitter operating at 632.8 nm, a 1.6-km propagation path through the open atmosphere, and an optical heterodyne receiver.