Two-frequency mutual coherence function of a Gaussian beam pulse in weak optical turbulence: an analytic solution

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Wave Propagation
• Statistical Physics

Background:

• Understanding pulse propagation in random media is crucial for applications like optical communications and remote sensing.
• Characterizing the coherence of light after traversing turbulent environments presents significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the behavior of Gaussian beam pulses in weakly fluctuating random media.
• To derive and analyze the two-frequency mutual coherence function (TFMCF) for such propagation scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of an exact integral representation for the TFMCF.
• Utilizing the modified von Karman spectrum to model refractive-index fluctuations.
• Development of an analytic approximation to the integral representation.

Main Results:

• An exact integral representation for the TFMCF of a Gaussian beam pulse was successfully derived.
• An analytic approximation based on the modified von Karman spectrum was presented.
• The analytic approximation was validated through comparison with exact numerical results.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a robust method for analyzing pulse propagation in random media.
• The derived TFMCF and its approximation offer valuable tools for predicting coherence properties.
• The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of wave phenomena in disordered environments.