Metric for optimizing spatially partially coherent beams for propagation through turbulence

David G. Voelz; Xifeng Xiao

doi:10.1117/1.3090435

1 March 2009 Metric for optimizing spatially partially coherent beams for propagation through turbulence

David G. Voelz, Xifeng Xiao

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 48, Issue 3, 036001 (March 2009). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3090435

Abstract

A performance metric Δ is described that can be used to determine the parameters of a partially coherent beam for near-optimal performance of a free-space optical link. The metric is defined as the mean received irradiance minus the standard deviation of the irradiance, and maximizing Δ balances the effects of beam spread and scintillation. An analytic form of Δ is developed for a Gaussian Schell-model beam, where the optimization parameter is the transverse coherence length. Comparisons of the metric performance are made with the more conventional probability-of-fade metric. The metric Δ is applied to determine the characteristics of the optimized coherence length as a function of a variety of link parameters and scenarios. In general, the optimized coherence length tends to decrease with increasing turbulence strength and propagation distance but increases with wavelength, although the behavior of specific scenarios can vary.

©(2009) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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David G. Voelz and Xifeng Xiao "Metric for optimizing spatially partially coherent beams for propagation through turbulence," Optical Engineering 48(3), 036001 (1 March 2009). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3090435

Published: 1 March 2009

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