Probability distribution of intensity fluctuations of vortex laser beams in the turbulent atmosphere

TL;DR

This paper uses numerical simulations to compare the statistical intensity fluctuations of vortex and Gaussian laser beams propagating through turbulent atmosphere, revealing different distribution behaviors under varying turbulence conditions.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the probability distributions of vortex beam intensity fluctuations in turbulence, highlighting differences from Gaussian beams under various conditions.

Findings

Gaussian beam fluctuations are lognormal under weak turbulence.

Vortex beam fluctuations follow exponential distribution under strong turbulence.

Distinct statistical behaviors depend on turbulence strength and beam type.

Abstract

Numerical simulation is used to analyze statistical characteristics of vortex beams propagating in the atmosphere. The cumulative distribution function and the probability density function of intensity fluctuations are compared for Gaussian beams and vortex beams. It is shown that for propagation conditions in the turbulent atmosphere corresponding to weak fluctuations (Rytov parameter much smaller than unity), intensity fluctuations at the axis of the Gaussian beam have the lognormal distribution, whereas the probability density distribution of the radiation intensity fluctuations at the axis of the vortex beams is well approximated by the exponential distribution characteristic of conditions of saturated fluctuations (Rytov parameter much larger than unity)