Atmospheric turbulence characterization with optical vortex density

This study presents a novel approach to characterizing atmospheric turbulence through the analysis of optical vortex density. Using images propagated through a controlled turbulence chamber, we demonstrate a robust linear correlation ($R^2=0.9932$) between vortex density and turbulence intensity. By applying Poincaré sphere filtering to isolate stable vortices, we enhance measurement accuracy and reliability. Experimental results reveal a robust linear relationship between vortex density and the refractive index structure constant, with a high goodness of fit. Experimental results validate the use of vortex density as a precise, non-intrusive metric for turbulence quantification, with significant potential applications in adaptive optics, free-space optical communications, and remote sensing. This approach offers a promising direction for atmospheric turbulence characterization, with scalability to natural environments and long-distance propagation scenarios.