Abstract

In a previous work we presented 3-D numerical solutions for the scintillation index vs range for a plane wave propagating in the atmosphere. The index-of-refraction fluctuations were represented by a modified Kolmogorov spectrum which included an inner scale. We present a numerical solution for the scintillation index vs range resulting from a point source when the inner scale is taken to be zero. The formulation is again based on the two-scale procedure. We show how the point-source solution differs from the plane wave case and discuss some general aspects of the finite-beam problem.

© 1987 Optical Society of America