Abstract
The angular power pattern, or equivalently the image-plane intensity distribution, is obtained for a circular aperture receiving a plane wave perturbed in transmission through a turbulent atmosphere. The aperture is assumed always to be aligned so as to maximize the received power. This alignment is shown to be that effected by a conventional angle-tracking servomechanism. Homogeneous, isotropic turbulence is assumed, and the aperture is taken to be of moderate size so that the 5/3-power law phase-structure function predicted by use of the Obukhov–Kolmogorov theory of turbulence applies adequately over its full extent. It is assumed also that the departure of the incident wavefronts from planarity everywhere on the aperture is small relative to a wavelength. This condition is shown to be met for relatively large deviation of phase from that of an unperturbed plane wave. Power patterns for tracking and nontracking apertures are compared.
© 1966 Optical Society of America
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