April 19-22, 2027

In a wide range of scientific and technological fields, the development of increasingly demanding optical systems requires a thorough understanding of atmospheric effects and the implementation of dedicated mitigation strategies. Initially driven by astronomy, these challenges now extend to near-ground imaging, satellite observation, ground-space and terrestrial free-space optical communications, free-space quantum communications, laser focusing, and space situational awareness. This 3.5-day scientific workshop aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in research activities related to the impact of atmospheric phenomena—particularly optical turbulence, aerosols and clouds effects—on optical systems. 

The workshop will address both the characterization and mitigation of these effects, with a particular focus on challenging environments involving strong turbulence, significant scintillation, high apparent wind speeds induced by target tracking, and anisoplanatism associated with field-of-view or point-ahead angle constraints. Key topics include channel modelling and characterization, optical propagation, and advanced modeling of atmospheric effects, as well as atmospheric measurement and forecasting approaches and the underlying meteorology governing these phenomena. Participants will explore knowledge of turbulence conditions, including the modeling, characterization, and prediction of refractive index structure (Cn²) and wind profiles in both the free atmosphere and local environments. 

A central theme of the workshop is the assessment of system performance with and without mitigation, alongside the development of innovative mitigation strategies. These include adaptive optics (AO), covering control loops, wavefront sensing, and pre-distortion techniques, as well as alternative approaches such as multi-aperture and transmitter diversity schemes, erasure coding, interleaving, photonic devices, and other advanced coding strategies. The program will also cover instrumentation for measuring atmospheric effects, experimental demonstrations and field trials, and observational studies aimed at improving their characterization, together with analysis of how these effects ultimately influence system and instrument performance. 

Finally, the workshop will highlight novel concepts and emerging applications, and address advanced pre- and post-processing techniques such as image deconvolution, point spread function (PSF) prediction, digital communications strategies, novel reception schemes, and advanced signal processing methods. Through this broad and integrated scope, the workshop aims to foster cross-disciplinary exchange and provide a coherent view of current challenges and emerging solutions in the field of atmospheric effects on optical technologies.