A methodology for laser radar / ladar imaging through atmospheric turbulence is studied for target feature extraction,
acquisition, tracking, identification, etc. The procedure follows sequentially by (1) laser-mode propagation through the
outward atmospheric path, which is modeled by using multiple turbulence phase-screens; (2) the propagated laser mode
illuminates a target which is modeled using multiple facets; and (3) simultaneously, or near simultaneously, the return
path turbulence effects are modeled by a reverse order Cn
2(h), Lo, and lo set of phase-screens assuming a plane-wave.
This return path amplitude & phase screen is then used to create a pupil plus atmospheric effects impulse-response
which is used to (4) accurately construct the image of a diffuse target on the detector focal plane array using
conventional Fourier optics. Agreement of both the outward and the return path phase-screen matrices with their
respective analytical turbulence parameters, which are independently computed, is shown. The Fourier optics
construction process of the target's image is reviewed, and typical diffuse target images of facet model objects are
presented illustrating scintillation and speckle effects. The images may then be used in algorithm development for a
specific system performance determination.