A three-dimensional refractive index model for simulation of optical wave propagation in atmospheric turbulence

Numerical modeling of optical wave propagation in atmospheric turbulence is traditionally performed with using the so-called "split"-operator method, when the influence of the propagation medium's refractive index inhomogeneities is accounted for only within a system of infinitely nar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Waves in random and complex media 2015-10, Vol.25 (4), p.556-575
Main Authors: Paramonov, P.V., Vorontsov, A.M., Kunitsyn, V.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric models
Atmospheric turbulence
Computational fluid dynamics
Computer simulation
Geometrical optics
Inhomogeneity
Mathematical analysis
Mathematical models
Propagation
Refractive index
Refractivity
Remote sensing
Representations
Screens
Three dimensional
Three dimensional models
Tracking
Turbulence
Variation
Wave propagation
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Summary:Numerical modeling of optical wave propagation in atmospheric turbulence is traditionally performed with using the so-called "split"-operator method, when the influence of the propagation medium's refractive index inhomogeneities is accounted for only within a system of infinitely narrow layers (phase screens) where phase is distorted. Commonly, under certain assumptions, such phase screens are considered as mutually statistically uncorrelated. However, in several important applications including laser target tracking, remote sensing, and atmospheric imaging, accurate optical field propagation modeling assumes upper limitations on interscreen spacing. The latter situation can be observed, for instance, in the presence of large-scale turbulent inhomogeneities or in deep turbulence conditions, where interscreen distances become comparable with turbulence outer scale and, hence, corresponding phase screens cannot be statistically uncorrelated. In this paper, we discuss correlated phase screens. The statistical characteristics of screens are calculated based on a representation of turbulent fluctuations of three-dimensional (3D) refractive index random field as a set of sequentially correlated 3D layers displaced in the wave propagation direction. The statistical characteristics of refractive index fluctuations are described in terms of the von Karman power spectrum density. In the representation of these 3D layers by corresponding phase screens, the geometrical optics approximation is used.
ISSN:1745-5030
1745-5049
DOI:10.1080/17455030.2015.1061227