Rytov approximation of the irradiance covariance and variance of a retroreflected optical beam in atmospheric turbulence

    Authors

    L. C. Andrews; R. L. Phillips;A. R. Weeks

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Opt. Soc. Am. A-Opt. Image Sci. Vis.

    Keywords

    GAUSSIAN-BEAM; PROPAGATION; SPECTRUM; WAVE; MODEL; Optics

    Abstract

    The irradiance (intensity) covariance and variance functions associated with a reflected Gaussian-beam wave from a glint target (retroreflector) are calculated and compared with similar results based on a specular target (smooth finite mirror). Detailed results are presented for the normalized irradiance variance, or scintillation index, of the reflected wave for both types of reflector in an improved model of atmospheric turbulence that incorporates a high-wave-number rise just before the dissipation range in addition to inner-outer-scale parameters. Numerical comparisons show that values of the normalized irradiance variance based on the improved model of refractive-index fluctuations (henceforth called the modified spectrum) can be up to 32% greater than those predicted by the Kolmogorov power-law spectrum when the inner scale is comparable in size with the first Fresnel zone. All analytic expressions derived here are based on weak-fluctuation theory using generalized spectral representations of the complex phase perturbations. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.

    Journal Title

    Journal of the Optical Society of America a-Optics Image Science and Vision

    Volume

    14

    Issue/Number

    8

    Publication Date

    1-1-1997

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1938

    Last Page

    1948

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000071779100013

    ISSN

    0740-3232

    Share

    COinS