Wave optics simulation of partially coherent beams

We describe a numerical, wave optics approach for simulating the propagation of a partially coherent beam. The approach requires the application of a succession of phase screens at the transmit end of the link and the summation of the resulting intensity profiles at the receiving end. To test the approach, a phase screen formulation for a Gaussian Schell-model beam was derived using a Gaussian random phase screen where its parameters are related to a form of the spatial coherence function for the transmittance. The numerical model was applied to several cases of propagation through vacuum and atmospheric turbulence and the resulting average beam intensity profile is shown to be nearly identical to the profile predicted by analytical results for the Gaussian Schell-model beam. Finally, the scintillation index of a coherent beam was investigated and the numerical result was found to generally follow the theoretical result, especially for source sizes that are relatively small or relatively larger. The model developed in this paper can be applied to analysis and design of free space optical laser links that utilize various partially coherent beams.

[1]  E. Spiller,et al.  Coherence and Fluctuations in Light Beams , 1964 .

[2]  H. Arsenault,et al.  Partial coherence in the image of an object illuminated with laser light through a moving diffuser , 1970 .

[3]  Y. Baykal,et al.  The scintillations for weak atmospheric turbulence using a partially coherent source , 1983 .

[4]  Lionel Buthaud.  Partial coherence of light modulated by progressive periodic ultrasonic waves , 1986 .

[5]  A. Friberg,et al.  Gaussian Schell-model beams generated with synthetic acousto-optic holograms , 1992 .

[6]  L. Mandel,et al.  Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics , 1995 .

[7]  L. Andrews,et al.  Propagation of a Gaussian-beam wave through a random phase screen , 1997 .

[8]  J. Woods,et al.  Probability and Random Processes with Applications to Signal Processing , 2001 .

[9]  E. Wolf,et al.  Spreading of partially coherent beams in random media. , 2002, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[10]  J. Garnier,et al.  Propagation of partially coherent light with the Maxwell–Debye equation , 2003 .

[11]  J. Ricklin,et al.  Atmospheric optical communication with a Gaussian Schell beam. , 2003, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[12]  E. Wolf,et al.  Mode analysis of spreading of partially coherent beams propagating through atmospheric turbulence. , 2003, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[13]  L. Andrews,et al.  Model for a partially coherent Gaussian beam in atmospheric turbulence with application in lasercom , 2004 .

[14]  A. Mussot,et al.  Spectral broadening of a partially coherent CW laser beam in single-mode optical fibers. , 2004, Optics express.

[15]  E. Wolf,et al.  Coherence and polarization of electromagnetic beams modulated by random phase screens and their changes on propagation in free space. , 2004, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[16]  Jennifer C. Ricklin,et al.  Performance loss factors for optical communication through clear air turbulence , 2004, SPIE Optics + Photonics.