Abstract

We consider here the beam spread of laser light when it propagates in a random medium. The analysis is given in terms of the coherence function. Explicit results are obtained principally for the region of multiple scatter. In this region, it is shown that the irradiance pattern is always gaussian and that the characteristic beam diameter increases at a rate proportional to $z^{\frac{3}{2}}$, where z is the propagation distance. The proportionality constant is determined for an arbitrary index-of-refraction spectrum, and the Kolmogorov spectrum is given as a special case. The results obtained are considered in atmospheric and oceanographic applications.

© 1970 Optical Society of America

Propagation of a Finite Beam in a Random Medium*

Mark Beran
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 60(4) 518-521 (1970)

Asymptotic theory of irradiance fluctuations in a beam propagating in a random medium

Alan M. Whitman and Mark J. Beran
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 65(7) 765-768 (1975)

Coherence Degradation of Gaussian Beams in a Turbulent Atmosphere

T. L. Ho
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 60(5) 667-673 (1970)

Asymptotic Theory for Beam Propagation in a Random Medium*

Mark J. Beran and Alan M. Whitman
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 61(8) 1044-1050 (1971)

Propagation of the Fourth-Order Coherence Function in a Random Medium*

T. L. Ho and M. J. Beran
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 58(10) 1335-1341 (1968)