Laser Beams in the Atmosphere

Although scarcely 20 years have passed since the creation of the first laser, laser engineering has enjoyed a variety of applications in science and in practice. Among these applications, a special pI ace is held by those related to the propagation of laser radiation in the atmosphere. Some, such as laser communication and information-transmission systems, locating and teleme­ tering systems, and mapping and navigation systems, require access to quantitative data on the effects of the atmos...