Question: One serious problem with sending intense laser beams long distances through the atmosphere to receiving targets is that the beams spread out. This effect, called

One serious problem with sending intense laser beams long distances through the atmosphere to receiving targets is that the beams spread out. This effect, called thermal blooming, is caused by the fact that the beam heats the air, thereby changing the speed that the light travels. Explain how such a change in the speed of light in the air could produce the observed effect. Will the speed increase or decrease upon heating? Why?

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Thermal blooming which causes laser beams to spread out when transmitted through the atmosphere occurs due to changes in the speed of light in the air ... View full answer

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