By MC3 Brian H. Abel

U.S. Army Cadet Dan Mauldin verifies operation of the scintillometer he used to measure atmospheric optical turbulence on remote San Nicolas Island off the southern California coast during his recently-completed, three-week summer internship at NPS. Mauldin's measurements are contributing to research at the university that may one day impact Navy shipboard laser systems.

Mauldin's internship was performed under the guidance of NPS Department of Systems Engineering Associate Professors Robert Harney and Doug Nelson.

"Atmospheric optical turbulence has an important impact on imaging and laser propagation systems. A high energy laser weapon system will see its effects in search, detection, acquisition and pointing, impacting multiple sensors and laser systems," said Nelson. "The measurements on San Nicolas Island provide a long term reservoir of data that can be analyzed for diurnal and longer term trends that will assist the warfighter in preparing to use sensors and laser systems. "

Fellow Systems Engineering Senior Lecturer Mark Stevens noted that in order for a laser to be effective, its beam must be tight and focused upon its target, hence the need to understand environmental processes that could lead to laser diffraction, rendering shipboard lasers far less effective. The location on San Nicolas Island, coined Lazer Bay, provided the perfect set of maritime characteristics for the measurements.