Estimating the optimal sampling rate using wavelet transform: an application to optical turbulence

Sampling rate and frequency content determination for optical quantities related to light propagation through turbulence are paramount experimental topics. Some papers about estimating properties of the optical turbulence seem to use ad hoc assumptions to set the sampling frequency used; this chosen sampling rate is assumed good enough to perform a proper measurement. On the other hand, other authors estimate the optimal sampling rate via fast Fourier transform of data series associated to the experiment. When possible, with the help of analytical models, cut-off frequencies, or frequency content, can be determined; yet, these approaches require prior knowledge of the optical turbulence. The aim of this paper is to propose an alternative, practical, experimental method to estimate a proper sampling rate. By means of the discrete wavelet transform, this approach can prevent any loss of information and, at the same time, avoid oversampling. Moreover, it is independent of the statistical model imposed on the turbulence. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America