Detection and computation of the amount of atmospheric wave-front tilt in the application of adaptive optics technology to lunar laser ranging

• Published in: Chinese astronomy and astrophysics Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 104 - 112
• Main Authors: Rui, Guo, Yao-hen, Xiong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 2005
• Subjects: astrometry—methods; data analystical; data analystical; astrometry—methods
• ISSN: 0275-1062; 1879-128X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chinastron.2005.01.010

For dealing with the problem of too few photons in the return wave in lunar laser ranging, the effect of the atmospheric turbulence is studied. The principles of the two tracking algorithms, cross correlation and absolute difference are studied and programs are written, which are tested with solar data. Collected image data of the interested area on the lunar disc are given. The integrated tilt signals of the atmospheric wave front obtained are treated by different methods under different conditions and the algorithms are compared as to their effectiveness.