Abstract

We review the two-scale method of solution of the coherence equations which govern the propagation of radiation in random media. Principal attention is paid to the solution of the fourth-order coherence function which allows us to determine the scintillation index. We also mention, briefly, recent work on the sixth-order equation. Using the two-scale method, we consider solutions for the Kolmogorov spectrum and the Gaussian and exponential correlation functions. Most of these calculations have been for an initial plane wave or point source, but there has been some work for finite beams. In two dimensions, where numerical solutions of the partial differential equations are possible, two-scale solutions are shown to give excellent agreement with the calculations.

© 1986 Optical Society of America