Turbulence-induced quality degradation of partially coherent beams

Taking the Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beam as a typical example of partially coherent beams, closed-form expressions for the mean squared beam width, power in the bucket (PIB), beta parameter, and Strehl ratio characterizing the beam quality of partially coherent beams propagating through atmospheric turbulence are derived and illustrated both theoretically and numerically. It is shown that the turbulence results in a degradation of the beam quality and partially coherent beams are less affected by the turbulence than fully coherent ones. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.