Low-altitude laser propagation link over a marine surface

A 1.55µm Laser Propagation Testbed (LPT) has been deployed over a 3.5 km stretch of open water between the port of Den Helder and the island of Texel in The Netherlands. The laser intensity and beam profile have been measured after propagation and reflection off a capture plate. Supplementing data was provided by large-aperture scintillometers, aerosol counters, visibility meters and standard meteorological equipment. The LPT will be presented, as well as a selection of data to demonstrate the potential of this setup. The LPT is expected to validate and verify laser propagation models and thereby to contribute in the field of atmospheric propagation, optical communication and high energy laser systems.