Correlation of optical phase distortion with turbulent structure in a homogeneous shear flow

The relative importance of small-scale and large-scale turbulent structure to phase distortion in propagation through the homogeneous shear flow is the focus of this study. The importance of large-scale vortical structure and the associated scalar distribution to optical distortion induced by propagation through a turbulent shear flow has been established (Truman and Lee 1989). Phase errors induced in a coherent optical beam by these turbulent fluctuations are computed. This scalar field shows elongated regions of intense fluctuations which have an inclination with respect to the mean flow similar to that of the characteristic hairpin eddies. Long-term plans include an examination of the effects of inhomogeneity through consideration of direct numerical simulations of the channel flow, boundary layer or mixing layer.