Mimicking Ocean Turbulence with Lasers

We're shooting lasers through a lab tank to perfectly mimic ocean turbulence. By heating the water

from below and cooling it from above, we create tiny, random swirls that distort the light.

We use special sensors to measure exactly how the laser beam's shape and intensity get scrambled in

real-time. This data lets us build incredibly realistic computer simulations.

The better our models match reality, the better we can design future underwater laser communication

systems that can cut right through the ocean's chaos and keep the signal clear.