Method for determining the spatial correlation width of a Gaussian-Schell beam to optimize the scintillation index over long horizontal turbulent paths
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2012
Abstract
We describe a method for controlling the spatial correlation width of a propagating Gaussian-Schell model (GSM) beam in an unknown turbulent atmosphere to optimize the scintillation index (SI). In our approach we slowly change a simulated GSM beam from incoherent to coherent by controlling the coherence through the spatial correlation width. The goal is to use statistics to determine the point just before a GSM beam becomes too coherent and starts to exhibit the statistics of a fully coherent source. We define this value of the spatial correlation width as the upper-coherence limit. We show that there is a straightforward method of calculating the upper-coherence limit in a closed channel regardless of turbulence strength or aperture size. © 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).
Publication Title
Optical Engineering
Recommended Citation
Drexler, K.,
&
Roggemann, M.
(2012).
Method for determining the spatial correlation width of a Gaussian-Schell beam to optimize the scintillation index over long horizontal turbulent paths.
Optical Engineering,
51(2).
http://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.51.2.028002
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/12016
