Title
Theory of optical scintillation: Gaussian-beam wave model
Abbreviated Journal Title
Waves Random Media
Keywords
IRRADIANCE-VARIANCE; INNER-SCALE; SPATIAL COHERENCE; SPECTRAL MODEL; FLUCTUATIONS; TURBULENCE; PROPAGATION; ATMOSPHERE; WEAK; Physics, Multidisciplinary
Abstract
A scintillation model previously developed by the authors is extended in this paper to the case of a propagating Gaussian-beam wave. As in the previous model, we account for the loss of spatial coherence as the optical wave propagates through atmospheric turbulence by eliminating effects of certain turbulent scale sizes that exist between the scale size of the spatial coherence radius of the beam and that of the scattering disc. These mid-range scale-size effects are eliminated through the formal introduction of spatial frequency filters that continually adjust spatial cut-off frequencies as the optical wave propagates. Unlike the previous model, in this paper we include the effect of a finite outer scale in addition to the inner scale. With a finite outer scale, the scintillation index can be substantially lower in strong turbulence than that predicted by a model with an infinite outer scale. This particular behaviour of scintillation in strong turbulence, mostly associated with horizontal paths near the ground, cannot be explained on the basis of previous expressions deduced from the asymptotic theory. Comparisons of the scintillation models with published experimental and simulation data through weak and strong irradiance fluctuations show excellent fits.
Journal Title
Waves in Random Media
Volume
11
Issue/Number
3
Publication Date
1-1-2001
Document Type
Article
Language
English
First Page
271
Last Page
291
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0959-7174
Recommended Citation
"Theory of optical scintillation: Gaussian-beam wave model" (2001). Faculty Bibliography 2000s. 2910.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2000/2910