The effect of a (spatially) partially coherent quasi-monochromatic lowest order Gaussian-beam on the direct detection system is studied in weak and strong atmospheric turbulence. The analytic expression for the scintillation index has been developed and analysed as a function of the spatial correlation distance (lc) and the correlation time (ts), associated with the source, as well as the strength of turbulence and the integration time (td) of the detector. The probability of fade is also studied as a function of relative detector speed td/ts. The limiting cases of slow (td>>ts) and fast (td<

Date Published: 27 January 2004
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 5160, Free-Space Laser Communication and Active Laser Illumination III, (27 January 2004); doi: 10.1117/12.504174

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5160:
Free-Space Laser Communication and Active Laser Illumination III
David G. Voelz; Jennifer C. Ricklin, Editor(s)