Abstract

An optical wave reflected back through a phase screen receives an enhancement of the average intensity along the line of incidence on the screen. This enhancement is due to single or multiple inhomogeneities depending on the mirror's position relative to the screen’s focus plane. Previous research has been mostly theoretical,¹ although there have been some experimental² studies. These studies confirm the existence of the phenomenon, but apparently no previous numerical study of this particular scattering mechanism has been performed. Organization of the numerical experiment constructed by simulating enhanced backscatter was derived as follows. A 2-D random phase screen was generated with a Gaussian phase shift for a 11/3 power-law turbulence spectra. A plane wave passes through the screen and propagates a distance z, at which point it encounters a mirror. The wave is then reflected back toward the initial screen. At the output of the second encounter of the same screen, the angular distribution of the power for the wave is analyzed along with the intensity fluctuations and the probability distribution of the intensity.

© 1988 Optical Society of America